Writing an obituary is one of those tasks nobody prepares for, and it usually arrives at the worst possible time. Here is the plain structure funeral homes and newspapers expect, so you are not staring at a blank page during grief.
The order an obituary follows
Almost every obituary uses the same five parts, top to bottom:
- Announcement — full name (including maiden name and nickname), age, city, and the date of death.
- Life story — where they were born, their work, military service, and the passions and milestones that defined them.
- Family — who they are survived by, and who preceded them in death.
- Service details — date, time, and location of the funeral or memorial.
- Closing line — a sentence on how they will be remembered, and where to send donations or flowers in lieu of the usual.
How long should it be?
Newspapers often charge by the line, so a printed obituary is commonly 200 to 300 words. An online memorial or funeral-home notice has no length limit and usually runs 400 to 500 words, leaving room for a fuller life story.
A short example
Margaret Anne Wilson, 78, of Portland, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026. A devoted mother, grandmother, and lifelong gardener, she is survived by her three children and five grandchildren. A memorial will be held July 12 at Rose Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local food bank.
That is a complete obituary in four sentences: announcement, who they were, service, and a closing wish.
Making it personal
The structure is easy; the hard part is the details. The obituaries people remember include small, true things — a favorite phrase, a Sunday ritual, the work they were proud of. Write those down first, then fit them into the five parts above.
If the blank page is too much
I built a small pay-once tool for exactly this moment. You enter the details you already know — name, life, family, and the qualities they will be remembered for — and it composes a complete, dignified obituary in minutes that you can copy and edit freely. You can preview the opening paragraph free before paying, and there is no subscription.
Full step-by-step guide with a fill-in-the-blank template: How to write an obituary
The tool itself: AI Obituary Writer
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