Knowing what to include in an obituary can make a difficult writing task feel more manageable.
This guide walks through the essential facts, meaningful details, and practical information readers may need, while leaving room for a voice that feels personal.
What information belongs in an obituary?
An obituary is a public notice that shares news of a person’s death and offers a brief account of their life.
It can also tell family, friends, and community members how to pay their respects.
The right length and tone depend on the person being remembered, the family’s wishes, and where the notice will appear.
Most obituaries include these core details:
- The person’s full name, including a nickname or former name if the family wants it shared
- Age and place of residence, when the family is comfortable including them
- Date of death and, if desired, place of death
- A concise account of their life, interests, work, or community involvement
- Names of close family members, if they wish to be listed
- Funeral, memorial, visitation, or celebration-of-life information
- Instructions for flowers, charitable donations, or other tributes, if applicable
Families do not have to publish every detail.
Consider privacy, accuracy, and what the person would have wanted before sharing sensitive information.
How should you begin an obituary?
Start with a clear opening that identifies the person and states the essential facts.
A simple first sentence often works better than an elaborate introduction.
Include the full name, age if appropriate, date of death, and general location.
The family may also choose to mention a spouse, partner, or other loved one.
For example, a fictional opening could read: “Jordan Lee, 72, of Cedar Falls, died on March 8, 2026.
Jordan’s family remembers a devoted gardener, longtime teacher, and enthusiastic neighbor.” This is a made-up example; replace every detail with verified information and the family’s preferred wording.
You may omit the cause of death.
If the family chooses to include it, confirm the wording and permission to share it.
Avoid guessing at circumstances or using medical terms unless the family has verified them.
Which life details make an obituary meaningful?
A useful biography gives readers a sense of the person beyond dates and relationships.
Choose details that reflect what mattered to them rather than trying to summarize every stage of life.
A few specific, accurate facts are often more vivid than a long list of milestones.
You might include:
- Where the person grew up, studied, or made a home
- Work, military service, volunteer roles, or other contributions they valued
- Hobbies, traditions, favorite places, or creative interests
- Qualities that loved ones associate with them, supported by concrete examples
- Groups, communities, or causes that were important to them
Focus on what the person did and enjoyed.
Instead of writing only that someone “loved music,” mention that they sang in a community choir or played records for family gatherings, if those details are true.
Keep the language respectful and avoid exaggeration or invented quotations.
How do you list family members respectfully?
Family sections can recognize important relationships, but there is no single required format.
Some families name a spouse or partner, children, siblings, and grandchildren; others use a shorter phrase such as “survived by their family and many friends.” Include only names and relationships that the family has confirmed and agreed to publish.
Depending on the family’s preferences, the obituary may also acknowledge relatives who died earlier.
Use names, relationships, and wording that feel comfortable to those closest to the person.
Families may choose not to list every relative, especially when doing so would make the notice too long or reveal private information.
What service and memorial details should you include?
Provide the information readers need to attend or participate.
Confirm all details with the person or organization coordinating the service before submitting the obituary.
Include:
- Type of gathering, such as a funeral, visitation, memorial, or celebration of life
- Date and start time
- Venue name and complete address, if the family wants the location public
- Any attendance instructions, such as a private service or invitation-only gathering
- Livestream or remote-attendance details, if available and approved for sharing
If arrangements have not been finalized, the family can say that service information will be shared later.
Do not publish private links, access codes, or an address without permission.
How should you mention donations or flowers?
If the family prefers charitable gifts or another form of remembrance, state the request plainly.
Name the organization and verify its official name and donation instructions.
A brief phrase may say that, in lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to a specified charity.
Only include a request the family has authorized.
Some families welcome flowers, cards, meals, or quiet remembrance without requesting donations.
There is no need to add a memorial-gift instruction if it does not fit their wishes.
How long should an obituary be?
Length depends on the publication and the family’s goals.
A short notice can cover the key facts and arrangements; a longer tribute can include more biography and personal detail.
Online memorial pages may allow more space than a printed newspaper, but each publisher sets its own submission rules, deadlines, formatting requirements, and rates.
Check the publication’s current instructions before drafting to learn about word limits, photo requirements, and any fees.
Newspapers set their own rates, so ask the publication directly rather than relying on an assumed price.
If space is limited, prioritize the name, death information, service details, and a few defining life details.
What should you check before submitting?
Have another family member or trusted person review the draft.
A final check can catch errors and help ensure the wording reflects the family’s preferences.
- Verify names, spelling, dates, ages, locations, and relationships.
- Confirm service details and donation instructions with the organizers.
- Ask permission before including sensitive information or naming living people.
- Check that the family approves the biography, tone, and level of detail.
- Review the publisher’s deadline, formatting rules, photo specifications, and rates.
An obituary does not need to capture an entire life.
Clear facts, carefully chosen memories, and practical service information give readers a respectful way to learn about the person and honor the family’s wishes.