How to write an obituary (with Christian examples)
Seven steps, in the order an obituary is read. Have the dates, the family names and the service details at hand; the rest is memory.
1. Announce the death
Open with the full name, the age, the town and the date. Add where they died if the family wants it said. One or two sentences is enough.
| Plain | Robert James Lindqvist, 85, of Duluth, Minnesota, died on October 12, 2026. |
|---|---|
| With faith | Robert James “Bob” Lindqvist, 85, of Duluth, Minnesota, went home to be with the Lord on October 12, 2026, surrounded by his family. |
| Homegoing | On October 12, 2026, Robert James Lindqvist, 85, of Duluth, Minnesota, entered into eternal rest. |
Wording samples for an invented person, Robert Lindqvist.
2. Tell the life story
Where and when they were born, and to whom. School, military service, marriage, work. Then what made them themselves: the garden, the fishing trips, the Sunday dinners, the saying everyone repeats. Two or three true details say more than a list of virtues.
3. Faith and church life
If faith mattered to them, say how: the church they belonged to and for how long, the choir, the usher board, the Sunday school class they taught, the missions they supported. Use your church’s own words. A Catholic obituary may mention the parish and the rosary group; a Baptist one, the deacon ministry or the mothers’ board.
A verse they loved can close this part or the whole obituary. Keep it short, and name it (Psalm 23, John 14:1–3).
4. Family: survived by and preceded in death by
The usual order: spouse, children (with their spouses in parentheses), grandchildren and great-grandchildren, parents if living, brothers and sisters, then others close to them.
| Survived by | his wife of 56 years, Carol; his children, Karin and Erik; and seven grandchildren. |
|---|---|
| Preceded in death by | his parents and his brother. |
Grandchildren can be a number rather than names. Check the spelling of every name with the family; this is where most corrections come from.
5. Service details
Name the service as your church does (Funeral Mass, Homegoing service, Service of Death and Resurrection, celebration of life), then the day, time and place, the visitation if there is one, and the burial. Online obituaries can link to a livestream.
6. Memorial donations
“In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to…” the church, a mission, a hospice or a cause they cared about. Give the full name of the organisation so people can find it.
7. Read it aloud and check facts
Read it aloud once, slowly. Then check, with someone who knew them:
- dates of birth, death and marriage
- the spelling of every name, and who is married to whom
- the service day, time and address
- that no one was left out of the family list
Obituary examples
Two complete obituaries written from these steps. The people are invented.
Margaret Ann Doyle
Catholic, for a motherMargaret Ann Doyle was called home to the Lord on September 21, 2026 in Albany, New York. Margaret was born on May 2, 1938 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Thomas and Rose Kelly.
Margaret married the late John Doyle. She taught second grade for thirty years and never forgot a student's name. Margaret was a faithful member of St. Teresa of Avila Parish.
Margaret loved her rosary group, her garden roses and Sunday dinners with the whole family.
Margaret is survived by the late John Doyle; children Patrick (Ellen) Doyle, Mary Doyle Hart and Thomas Doyle; grandchildren five grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Teresa of Avila Parish. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the parish food pantry.
James Earl Whitaker
Homegoing, for a fatherJames Earl Whitaker went home to be with the Lord on October 3, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan, leaving behind a life full of love and laughter. James was born on January 19, 1945 in Macon, Georgia.
James married Loretta Whitaker; they shared 52 years together. He worked thirty-four years at the auto plant and served as a deacon. James was a faithful member of Greater Grace Missionary Baptist Church.
James loved singing in the men's chorus, barbecue on the Fourth of July and his grandchildren's ball games.
James is survived by Loretta Whitaker; children James Jr., Denise and Michael; grandchildren nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; siblings his sister Ruth Ann.
A homegoing celebration will be held at Greater Grace Missionary Baptist Church.
Four more, and a template to copy: obituary template.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out a family member, or listing a former spouse without asking the family.
- Wrong dates or a misspelled name: the family will notice every one.
- A list of qualities (“kind, generous, loving”) instead of one thing they did.
- Too long for the newspaper, which charges by length. Write the full version for the program and a short one for print.
- Home address and full birth date in an online obituary: both help identity thieves. The town and the year are enough.
Questions
Who writes the obituary?
- Usually a close family member, sometimes with help from the funeral home.
Should I mention the cause of death?
- It is optional. Many families leave it out or say “after a long illness”.
Where is the obituary published?
- In the funeral program, on the funeral home website, and often in a local newspaper.