Obituary Examples
Real, complete examples by relationship — borrow the shape, keep your own words.
Nobody should have to invent a form of writing on the worst week of their life. Each page below holds three complete, copyable obituaries — a short version, a warm detailed version, and a faith-centered version — written for that specific relationship, plus tips from how families actually write them.
The shape every obituary shares
- The notice: full name, age, place, and date of passing.
- The life: birth date and place, work, and one or two details that were unmistakably them.
- The people: who they leave behind — checked, spelled correctly, in an order the family agrees on.
- The service: where and when friends can pay their respects.
Our editor's writing helper builds this structure from a few facts, and the programme lays it out with the order of service, photos, and acknowledgements — free, in about twenty minutes.
Common questions
What makes a good obituary?+
The facts readers need (full name, age, dates, survivors, service details) carried by one or two details only your family could know. Specific beats poetic: one true habit outlives a paragraph of adjectives.
How long should an obituary be?+
For a printed programme, 120–200 words sits comfortably on a page. Newspapers charge by length; programmes don't — many families print the full story and publish a short notice.
Can I use these examples directly?+
Yes — every example on these pages was written to be borrowed. Paste one into the editor, change the details, and the programme lays it out automatically.