Step-By-Step Guide to Writing an Obituary
An obituary gives an account of the deceased person’s life, informs the public about the death as well as outlining the information about the planned funeral together with the memorial service. Scroll down for free obituary templates to give you an easy time while drafting an obituary to be published in your local newspapers.
- Review Your Local Paper’s Style
Most newspapers require obituaries to follow a specific style. Start by grabbing a copy of your local paper for reference, or ask your funeral home if they provide templates. If you plan to submit to other newspapers, check their styles as well—many print obituaries online. Not following the paper’s style may result in editors rewriting your obituary, which could introduce errors. - Set a Price Limit
Newspapers often charge by the column inch, and long obituaries can be costly. Our service providers offer basic obituary options for an additional fee. Ask how much it will cost and adjust the length accordingly. To estimate the word count per column inch, ask your funeral home or newspaper for guidelines. Be sure to inquire about any length restrictions to avoid unexpected costs. - Ask About Deadlines
Most daily papers have afternoon deadlines, usually between 2 and 3 p.m. To ensure your obituary is accurate and runs on time, submit it as early as possible. While some papers accept late submissions, this increases the chance of errors as editors have less time to proofread. - Gather the Necessary Information
Before writing, gather all the details you’ll need. If you’re missing any information, make phone calls to obtain it. Here’s a basic checklist of what’s typically included:- Full name of the deceased
- Age, date of birth, and city/province of residence at the time of passing
- Significant other’s name (alive or deceased)
- Time, date, and place of viewing, burial, wake, or memorial service. If plans are incomplete, you can note, "Funeral arrangements are being handled by [Funeral Home] and will be announced later."
- Birthplace (city/province)
- Previous residences, especially if significant in the person’s life
- Names of parents (alive or deceased)
- Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, including their locations (or list just the number, e.g., "five grandchildren")
- Other family members (nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles) and special friends
- Pets
- Activities (clubs, organizations, volunteer work, hobbies)
- Career and employment history
- Education, degrees, and schools attended
- Military service
- Date of marriage
- Personality traits or anecdotes
- Cause of death (optional)
- Memorial contribution information in lieu of flowers (e.g., “Please consider a donation to [Charity] in memory of [Name]”).
- Write the Obituary
With all your information gathered, begin writing the obituary. You can use templates or sample obituaries as a starting point to help guide you through the process. - Have Someone Proofread
Before submitting, have a close family member or friend review the obituary for spelling, grammar, and accuracy. They can also help ensure that no important details or family members are left out. As you write, consider how your loved one would want to be remembered and include personal details that reflect their life. - Submit an Electronic Copy
Whenever possible, submit the obituary electronically to minimize errors. Handwritten or faxed copies often need to be retyped, which increases the chance of mistakes. If your funeral home submits the obituary on your behalf, confirm they plan to email it to the newspaper. If not, submit it yourself electronically. - Request a Proof
If you’re concerned about accuracy, ask the newspaper to send you a proof before printing. This may require a visit to the newspaper office or receiving a fax, but it can help you catch errors before publication. - Submit to Other Newspapers
If your loved one had connections in other towns, consider submitting the obituary to additional newspapers. Make sure to review their guidelines and adjust the style if necessary. - Check the Printed Obituary
When the obituary is published, review it for errors. If any mistakes were made, contact the newspaper right away, as they may offer to reprint it free of charge.
BASIC OBITUARY TEMPLATE
NAME, AGE, of RESIDENCE, died (passed away, went to heaven, etc.), DATE (cause of death optional). HE/SHE was born (PLACE, DATE OF BIRTH, PARENTS). NAME graduated from SCHOOL and received DEGREE from SCHOOL. HE/SHE was married to SPOUSE’S NAME (date of wedding optional). INSERT OPTIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION HERE: Employment history, accomplishments, organizations, award, activities, etc. HE/SHE was survived by CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, ETC. (Make sure to separate each entry with a semicolon.) Funeral arrangements will be held TIME, DATE and PLACE.
Most obituaries follow a very basic noun/verb format. This may seem dry and boring, but this is the style at most newspapers. However, if it looks like the newspaper offers more flexibility and you feel like being creative, by all means go for it. The example above is just an example, and styles differ from paper to paper. Try to mimic the style of other obituaries in your newspaper so it will not be rewritten. Just focus on getting the format right and don’t sweat the small stuff such as abbreviations, days vs. dates, courtesy titles, etc. Editors will fix these things to conform with the newspaper’s style rules.
Most obituaries follow a very basic noun/verb format. This may seem dry and boring, but this is the style at most newspapers. However, if it looks like the newspaper offers more flexibility and you feel like being creative, by all means go for it. The example above is just an example, and styles differ from paper to paper. Try to mimic the style of other obituaries in your newspaper so it will not be rewritten. Just focus on getting the format right and don’t sweat the small stuff such as abbreviations, days vs. dates, courtesy titles, etc. Editors will fix these things to conform with the newspaper’s style rules.
Sample Obituary - Standard
MARY JANE SMITH, 88, of Calgary, died Wednesday. She was born to the late John and Jane Green, Nov. 11, 1919, in Calgary, AB. Mary graduated from Highland Park High School in 1938 and received a BA in English from the University of Calgary in 1942. She married the late John Smith in 1943, and they lived together in Edmonton, AB, before relocating back to Calgary in 1960. Mary was a high school English teacher until she retired in 1984 and was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students. She founded the Calgary Reads program for underprivileged children in 1968 and was honored with the CBE Teacher of the Year award in 1966 and 1970. Mary was an active member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Calgary Rotary Club and the Bridgeland Book Club. She loved to travel, and took 20 cruise trips with her husband in her lifetime. Mary is survived by four children: Jane Doe and Samantha Andrews, of Medicine Hat; Jennifer Brown, of Lethbridge; and Mike Smith, of Taber. She also is survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Please, in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Highland Park Presbyterian Church. A viewing will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Name of Funeral Home. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Queen's Park Cemetery.
sample obituary - older person
JOHN IRVING MACREADY, 92, of Red Deer, AB, died April 30th, 2013. “Johnny” MacReady, son of Irving and Dorothy MacReady, loving husband of Irene Smith MacReady, passed away on April 30th at his home in Red Deer, AB after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Irene, and two sons Abraham and Joshua. He is also survived by six grandchildren and three great grandchildren, all living in the Red Deer area. MacReady worked as an auto mechanic until his retirement in 1983, bringing his love of cars home with him to his own garage on many occasions. He also loved fishing, deer hunting, and playing with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Services will be held this Tuesday at Red Deer funeral home at 6 pm.
sample obituary - younger person
MARGARET ELIZABETH GREEN, 32, of Lethbridge, AB, passed away Sunday, April 28th, after a fatal car accident. She was born in Taber, AB on October 21st 1980 to Michael and Susan Jones. Margaret graduated from Chinook High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago. She was married to Jason Green on May 15th, 2009. Margaret took pride in working as an administrative coordinator at The Art Institute of Chicago, and in her spare time painted and doted on her dog Zipper. She loved to jog along the lakefront in the mornings and was training for her first marathon. Margaret is survived by her brother Nathan Jones, her nieces Claire and Marissa Jones, her parents Susan and Michael, and her loving husband Jason. Her wonderful spirit, joy, and talents will be celebrated at an 11 am memorial service at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge, AB.
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