Obituary Examples: 4 Sample Obituaries to Guide Yours

Obituary Examples: Four Sample Obituaries and What Makes Them Work

Reading a few good obituary examples is the fastest way to see how much to say and in what order. Below are four sample obituaries Toastful wrote from fictional families' notes: a grandmother and retired librarian, a veteran father, a husband with a big sense of humor, and a young man who died far too soon. Each one shows a different tone and length, and the inputs under each example show exactly which facts the family gave. Use them as a model, then write your own.

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Obituary examples

Each example below was written by Toastful from the answers shown under it, so you can see exactly how your own stories turn into a finished obituary. Names and details are fictional.

Example 1: Daughter for her mother and grandmother, warm and personal, typical online length

297 words

Rosalind "Roz" Whitfield, 88, of Asheville, North Carolina, died on September 28, 2026, in Asheville.

Roz was born on April 2, 1938, in Boone, North Carolina, to Walter and Edna Greer. She graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1960 and became a librarian. The next year, in 1961, she married Harold Whitfield. They raised two daughters in West Asheville.

Roz spent 33 years with the Buncombe County library system. For ten of those years, she drove the county bookmobile to mountain communities that had no library of their own. She retired in 1995.

Over her career, Roz signed up hundreds of children for their first library card. She kept a list of every one of them in a spiral notebook. She often said, "A library card is a key to every door."

Roz always had a paperback in her purse and a second one for whoever she was with. She grew dahlias. She played a cutthroat game of Scrabble and never once let a grandchild win. She was known for her pound cake and for mailing newspaper clippings to anyone she thought would enjoy them.

She is survived by her daughters, Lauren (David) Pierce and Anne Whitfield; five grandchildren, Sarah, Ben, Molly, Jack and Tess; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, June Carver, of Boone.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Harold, in 2013, and by her parents.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Friends of the Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Roz opened doors for generations of readers, and she will be remembered by every one of them.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter

Writer: Lauren, daughter
Basics: Born April 2, 1938, in Boone, North Carolina, to Walter and Edna Greer. Died September 28, 2026, in Asheville.
Life story: She graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College in 1960 and became a librarian. For 33 years she worked for the Buncombe County library system, and for ten of those years she drove the county bookmobile to mountain communities that had no library of their own. She married Harold Whitfield in 1961, and they raised two daughters in West Asheville. She retired in 1995.
Personality: Roz signed up hundreds of kids for their first library card and kept a list of every one of them in a spiral notebook. She always had a paperback in her purse and a second one for whoever she was with. She grew dahlias, played a cutthroat game of Scrabble and never once let a grandchild win. She was known for her pound cake and for mailing newspaper clippings to anyone she thought would like them.
Survivors: Her daughters, Lauren (David) Pierce and Anne Whitfield; five grandchildren, Sarah, Ben, Molly, Jack and Tess; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, June Carver, of Boone.
Predeceased: Her husband of 52 years, Harold, in 2013, and her parents.
Service: A memorial service will be held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall.
Donations: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Friends of the Buncombe County Public Libraries.
Extras: She always said, 'A library card is a key to every door.'

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Example 2: Son for his father, an Army veteran, traditional, typical online length

346 words

Eduardo "Ed" Ramirez Sr., 80, of San Antonio, Texas, died on October 6, 2026, in San Antonio.

Ed was born on January 15, 1946, in Laredo, Texas, to Ignacio and Rosa Ramirez. He graduated from Martin High School in Laredo in 1964 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965. He served in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division from 1966 to 1967 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1968.

After his military service, Ed made his home in San Antonio. He worked for 32 years as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 2001. In 1969, he married Carmen Salinas. They were married for 57 years.

Ed was a quiet, steady man. He was proud of his service but rarely spoke of it. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 4815, and for twenty years he drove fellow veterans to their medical appointments every week. He coached Little League at Woodlawn Lake Park, kept his lawn perfect, and made brisket for every family gathering. He believed in showing up early and keeping your word. Those who knew him will remember him for exactly that.

Ed is survived by his wife, Carmen; his children, Eduardo Jr. (Lisa) Ramirez, Michael (Dana) Ramirez and Sylvia (Robert) Gonzales; seven grandchildren; and his brother, Ruben Ramirez, of Laredo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ignacio and Rosa Ramirez, and his sister, Elena Ortiz.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Castillo Family Funeral Home, with a rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to VFW Post 4815.

The family thanks the doctors and nurses at the VA hospital in San Antonio for their care.

Ed will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, and as a man whose word could always be trusted.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter

Writer: Michael, son
Basics: Born January 15, 1946, in Laredo, Texas, to Ignacio and Rosa Ramirez. Died October 6, 2026, in San Antonio.
Life story: He graduated from Martin High School in Laredo in 1964 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965. He served in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division from 1966 to 1967 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1968. He then worked 32 years as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in San Antonio, retiring in 2001. He married Carmen Salinas in 1969.
Personality: Ed was a quiet, steady man who was proud of his service but rarely talked about it. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 4815 and drove fellow veterans to their medical appointments every week for twenty years. He coached Little League at Woodlawn Lake Park, kept his lawn perfect, and made brisket for every family gathering. He believed in showing up early and keeping your word.
Survivors: His wife of 57 years, Carmen; his children, Eduardo Jr. (Lisa) Ramirez, Michael (Dana) Ramirez and Sylvia (Robert) Gonzales; seven grandchildren; and his brother, Ruben Ramirez, of Laredo.
Predeceased: His parents, Ignacio and Rosa Ramirez, and his sister, Elena Ortiz.
Service: Visitation will be held Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Castillo Family Funeral Home, with a rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Donations: Memorial gifts may be made to VFW Post 4815.
Extras: The family thanks the doctors and nurses at the VA hospital in San Antonio for their care.

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Example 3: Wife for her husband, gently lighthearted, short

220 words

Gerald "Gerry" Kowalski, 75, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died on October 3, 2026, in Milwaukee.

Gerry was born in Milwaukee on March 9, 1951. He graduated from Pulaski High School and worked for 38 years as a machinist at a Milwaukee gear plant. In 1974, he married Barbara Nowak at St. Josaphat Basilica. They spent 52 years in the same bungalow on the south side.

Gerry told a pun for every occasion and groaned louder at his own jokes than anyone else did. For 30 years, he played accordion in a polka band on weekends. He often said, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing with an accordion." He owned more Packers sweatshirts than anyone should and believed every problem could be solved with duct tape or a fish fry. He was always the first to help a neighbor with a snowblower or a stuck car.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his sons, Mark (Julie) and Steven Kowalski; four grandchildren, who all know how to play "Beer Barrel Polka"; and his sister, Diane Wozniak.

A celebration of life will be held at the Polish Falcons hall on [date and time to be announced].

In lieu of flowers, please take someone you love to a Friday fish fry.

Gerry will be missed, and the groans will never be the same.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter

Writer: Barbara, wife
Basics: Born March 9, 1951, in Milwaukee. Died October 3, 2026, in Milwaukee.
Life story: He graduated from Pulaski High School and worked 38 years as a machinist at a Milwaukee gear plant. He married Barbara Nowak in 1974 at St. Josaphat Basilica, and they spent 52 years in the same bungalow on the south side.
Personality: Gerry told a pun for every occasion and groaned louder at his own jokes than anyone else did. He played accordion in a polka band on weekends for 30 years, owned more Packers sweatshirts than anyone should, and believed every problem could be solved with duct tape or a fish fry. He was the first to help any neighbor with a snowblower or a stuck car.
Survivors: His wife, Barbara; his sons, Mark (Julie) and Steven Kowalski; four grandchildren, who all know how to play 'Beer Barrel Polka'; and his sister, Diane Wozniak.
Service: A celebration of life will be held at the Polish Falcons hall. Date and time to be announced.
Donations: In lieu of flowers, please take someone you love to a Friday fish fry.
Extras: He always said, 'If it's worth doing, it's worth doing with an accordion.'

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Example 4: Sister for her younger brother, warm and gentle, short

203 words

Daniel Quoc Tran, known to all as Danny, died on October 1, 2026, at the age of 29. He was born on May 21, 1997, in Sacramento, California, and lived there his whole life.

Danny graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School and earned a degree in graphic design from Sacramento State in 2020. He worked as a designer for a local print shop and drew a weekly comic for a neighborhood newsletter.

Danny was the funniest person in any room and the first to notice if someone was left out. He drew cartoons of his friends on napkins, coffee cups and birthday cards. He played pickup basketball every Sunday at McKinley Park. He loved his nephew, Leo, more than anything, and he never missed a family pho night.

Danny is survived by his parents, Minh and Hoa Tran; his sister, Linh (Kevin) Nguyen; his nephew, Leo; his grandmother, Bich Tran; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Riverbend Memorial Chapel in Sacramento.

The family thanks everyone who has reached out with stories and drawings of Danny. His humor and kindness will be remembered by all who knew him.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter

Writer: Linh, sister
Basics: Born May 21, 1997, in Sacramento, where he lived his whole life. Died October 1, 2026.
Life story: Danny graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School and earned a degree in graphic design from Sacramento State in 2020. He worked as a designer for a local print shop and drew a weekly comic for a neighborhood newsletter.
Personality: Danny was the funniest person in any room and the first to notice if someone was left out. He drew cartoons of his friends on napkins, coffee cups and birthday cards, and played pickup basketball every Sunday at McKinley Park. He loved his nephew Leo more than anything and never missed a family pho night.
Survivors: His parents, Minh and Hoa Tran; his sister, Linh (Kevin) Nguyen; his nephew, Leo; his grandmother, Bich Tran; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Service: A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Riverbend Memorial Chapel in Sacramento.
Extras: The family thanks everyone who has reached out with stories and drawings of Danny.

Write mine with my stories

How to structure it

Open with the announcement

Every example above starts the same way: full name, age, hometown and date of death in the first sentence or two. Readers often scan for this line to be sure it's the person they knew, so put it first even if you want the obituary to feel personal. Include a nickname in quotation marks if that's what people called them.

Tell the life story in time order

Birthplace and parents, then school, work, military service and marriage. Keep each chapter to a sentence or two. The veteran example names the branch and years of service exactly as the family gave them, and nothing more, because a wrong rank or unit is the kind of error that hurts.

Show personality with specifics

This is the part that separates a good obituary from a form. The grandmother example mentions the bookmobile and the library cards she handed out, not just that she 'loved reading.' Pick two or three details a reader could picture, like a dish, a hobby, a habit or a saying.

Match the tone to the person

Traditional suits a formal family or a newspaper. Warm and personal works for most online obituaries. Gently lighthearted fits someone known for humor, like the husband example, as long as every joke is about how they lived and never about how they died.

List survivors and those who died before

Write 'survived by' first, closest relationships first: spouse, children (with their spouses in parentheses), grandchildren, then siblings. Then 'preceded in death by' for parents, a spouse, a child or siblings. When a family is large, the examples give a count, like 'seven grandchildren,' instead of every name.

Add service details, donations and thanks

Say what is happening, when and where. If details aren't set, keep a placeholder in [brackets] and fill it in before publishing. Add any 'in lieu of flowers' request and a one-line thank-you to hospice staff or caregivers if the family wants one.

Close with one short line

End with a sentence that sounds like the family, such as 'She will be missed by everyone who ever borrowed a book from her' or simply 'May he rest in peace.' Keep it to one or two lines. The facts above already did the work.

Opening and closing lines

Ways to open

“[Full Name], [age], of [City, State], died on [day, date] at [place]. [She/He] was born on [date] in [Birthplace] to [Parents' Names].”
“If you ever [bought a used car on Route 9 / sat in Room 12 at Lincoln Elementary], you probably knew [Full Name], who died on [date] at the age of [age].”
“[First Name] "[Nickname]" [Last Name], a [branch] veteran who served [years or conflict], died on [date] in [City]. He was [age].”
“With heavy hearts, the family of [Full Name] shares that [she/he] died on [date] in [City], [State]. [She/He] was [age] years old.”
“[Full Name] ([Maiden Name]), [age], of [City], died on [date]. Born in [Birthplace], she spent [number] years as a [job] and a lifetime [what she was known for].”
“[Full Name], [age], who never met a [pun / yard sale / stray dog] [he/she] didn't love, died on [date] in [City].”
“[Full Name] of [City], [State], died on [date] at the age of [age]. In [his/her/their] [number] years, [First Name] filled more rooms with [music / laughter / friends] than most people manage in a lifetime.”
“[Full Name], [age], of [City], entered into rest on [date], with [family members] by [her/his] side.”
“[Full Name], beloved [wife/husband] of [number] years to [Spouse's Name] and [Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa] to many, died on [date] in [City]. [She/He] was [age].”

Closing lines

“[She/He] will be missed by everyone who ever [shared a meal at her table / fished beside him / heard her laugh across a room].”
“In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you [donate to Organization] or simply [do something they loved, like plant a tree or call an old friend].”
“The family is grateful to the staff of [Hospice or Care Home] for the kindness and care they gave [First Name].”
“A celebration of [First Name]'s life will be held at [Place] on [date] at [time]. Come as you are; [she/he] would have wanted it that way.”
“Arrangements are in the care of [Funeral Home], [City]. Condolences may be shared at [website].”
“The next time you [hear a bad pun / see a cardinal / order pie first], think of [First Name].”
“[She/He] leaves behind a [garden / workshop / kitchen] full of [what they made] and a family who will keep [her/his] traditions going.”
“Rest well, [Nickname]. [The garden / The team / The grandkids] will be in good hands.”
“May [she/he] rest in peace.”

Fill-in-the-blank template

Prefer to write it yourself? Copy this and replace everything in [brackets].

[FULL NAME], [AGE], of [CITY, STATE], died on [DAY, DATE] at [PLACE]. [SHE/HE] was born on [DATE] in [BIRTHPLACE] to [PARENTS' NAMES].

[FIRST NAME] grew up in [TOWN] and graduated from [SCHOOL] in [YEAR]. [SHE/HE] worked as a [JOB] at [EMPLOYER] for [NUMBER] years. [ADD MILITARY SERVICE IF ANY: BRANCH, YEARS, WHERE SERVED.] In [YEAR], [SHE/HE] married [SPOUSE'S NAME], and they made their home in [TOWN].

[FIRST NAME] was known for [ONE SPECIFIC THING PEOPLE REMEMBER]. [SHE/HE] loved [HOBBY OR PASSION] and [SECOND THING], and could always be found [WHERE THEY SPENT THEIR TIME]. Anyone who knew [HER/HIM] will remember [A SAYING, HABIT OR SMALL KINDNESS].

[SHE/HE] is survived by [SPOUSE'S NAME]; [HER/HIS] children, [CHILD (SPOUSE) NAME] and [CHILD (SPOUSE) NAME]; [NUMBER] grandchildren; and [SIBLINGS]. [SHE/HE] was preceded in death by [PARENTS, SPOUSE, SIBLINGS OR CHILDREN].

Visitation will be held at [FUNERAL HOME] on [DATE] from [TIME] to [TIME]. A [FUNERAL / MEMORIAL] service will follow at [PLACE] on [DATE] at [TIME], with burial at [CEMETERY].

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [ORGANIZATION]. The family thanks [HOSPICE OR CAREGIVERS] for their care. [ONE SHORT CLOSING LINE.]

Tips and mistakes to avoid

Do

Read two or three obituaries from your local funeral home or paper first, so yours matches the length and style readers there expect.
Write the facts list before any sentences: full name, dates, places, schools, jobs, spouse, children, grandchildren and service details.
Use the name people actually called them, like "Margaret 'Peggy' Hale," so friends who only knew the nickname recognize the obituary.
Put spouses of children in parentheses, such as "Ann (Mark) Lewis," which is the usual obituary format and saves space.
Choose one tone and stick with it; a gently funny obituary still needs a respectful announcement and accurate service details.
Have one other relative check every name, date and spelling, especially in-laws, step-relatives and great-grandchildren.
Keep a short version (under 150 words) ready if a newspaper charges by length, and post the full obituary online.

Avoid

Don't copy an obituary example word for word; borrow the structure, then use your own family's details.
Don't guess a date, rank, school or cause of death to fill a gap; leave a [bracket] and confirm it.
Don't publish a full birth date, birthplace, mother's maiden name and home address together, since identity thieves read obituaries too.
Don't stack up general praise like "kind, loving and generous" without one detail that proves it.
Don't leave someone out of the survivors list by accident, especially stepchildren, a partner or a sibling's spouse.
Don't announce service times until the funeral home has confirmed them.

Frequently asked questions

What should be included in an obituary?

Most obituary examples include the full name, age, hometown and date of death; birth date, birthplace and parents; school, work and any military service; marriage; a few personal details; survivors and those who died before; service details; and memorial donation wishes. You don't need all of it. A short obituary might have only the announcement, two lines about their life, close family and the service.

How long should an obituary be?

Look at the samples above: the standard examples run about 300 to 350 words and the short ones about 200. For an online obituary, 200 to 450 words is typical. Newspapers usually charge by the line, word or column inch and costs vary from paper to paper, so many families print a short notice and post the full version on the funeral home's website for free.

Who writes the obituary, the family or the funeral home?

Usually the family. A spouse, adult child or grandchild writes it, and the funeral home helps format it, posts it on their website and sends it to newspapers. Some funeral homes will draft one from a fact sheet you fill in, but it reads more like your person when a family member writes or edits it. Ask the funeral director about deadlines and word limits.

Should an obituary say how the person died?

Only if the family wants it to. None of the examples on this page mention a cause of death, because the families didn't include one, and that is very common. Some families name an illness to raise awareness or link to a charity. Others use a gentle phrase like "unexpectedly" or "after a long illness." Leaving it out is always acceptable.

Can an obituary be funny?

Yes, when it fits the person. The husband example uses his own puns and polka band to make readers smile while keeping the announcement, family and service details clear and respectful. Keep the humor about how they lived, never about how they died, and check with the closest family first. If anyone is unsure, choose warm instead of funny.

How do you write an obituary for a young person?

Keep it simple and gentle. Focus on who they were right now: their friends, work, talents and the people they loved, as in the example for Danny. List parents, siblings and grandparents as survivors. There is no need to explain the death or reflect on a life cut short; readers already feel it. Many families add a line inviting friends to share memories.

Can I use an obituary example as a template?

Yes. Use the order and the kind of detail from an example you like, then replace every fact with your own. There's also a fill-in-the-blank template on this page. Don't copy distinctive lines from published obituaries, because friends may recognize them, and your family's own details will always sound truer.

How can Toastful help me write an obituary?

Toastful wrote every sample here from the answers shown under it. You do the same: enter their name, age and hometown, answer questions about their life, personality, family and any service plans, and pick a tone and length. You get a third-person draft in about a minute with a free preview. The full obituary is $9.95, or $17.95 Complete with a newspaper death notice and social media announcement. 30-day money-back guarantee.

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