Obituary writer
Answer what you can. Skip what you can't. We'll build something from what you give us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Writing an Obituary
Writing an obituary is one of the first things a family is asked to do after someone dies, often within the first day or two. If you have questions about what to include, how long it should be, or how the process works, the answers below are a place to start.
How soon after someone dies do you need to write the obituary?
Most families need the obituary ready within one to two days of the death, before the funeral, so people know when and where services are held. The funeral home will usually ask for it early in the planning process.
What information goes in an obituary?
The basics are full name, date of birth, date of passing, where they lived, and service details. Beyond that, most families include immediate family members, a short description of who the person was, their career, and the things they loved.
How long should an obituary be?
Most obituaries run between 150 and 400 words. Shorter is fine — you don't need to account for every year of a person's life. What matters is that it sounds like them and gives people enough to know when and where to gather.
Who is supposed to write the obituary?
Usually it falls to an immediate family member, most often a spouse or adult child. The funeral home can help if no one feels up to it, and some families write it together. There's no rule about who has to do it.
What's the hardest part of writing an obituary?
Most people say it's the blank page — not knowing where to start or what to include. Having a series of questions to answer, rather than an open document to fill, makes the process significantly easier.
Can you write an obituary before someone dies?
Yes, and it's worth considering. Having the basic information documented while there's no urgency means the family isn't starting from zero in the first hours after a loss. Many people write a draft as part of broader end-of-life planning.
Do obituaries have to be published in a newspaper?
No. Most funeral homes post obituaries on their own websites, and many families share them on social media or through email. Print publication is optional and often carries a cost. You can honor someone publicly without the newspaper.
What's the difference between an obituary and a death notice?
A death notice is typically a brief announcement — name, date, service details. An obituary is longer and tells the story of who the person was. Both serve the same purpose of letting people know, but an obituary becomes part of the record of someone's life.