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Written by Emily Cross.
16 minute read
How to announce a death of someone you love can feel overwhelming, but it allows others the chance to pay their respects.” If you’re the next of kin, you may want to ask someone close to you to take on this task, and that’s perfectly understandable. If you’ve been asked to write the obituary by a grieving partner, you may feel a strong sense of responsibility to get it right.
Wherever you find yourself right now, we want you to know we’re here to help. Looking at a few obituary examples can be a good starting point. Over the years, we’ve read many heartfelt and moving tributes while delivering direct cremation services. We’d like to share what we’ve learned.
Grief is personal, so what feels right to you might not resonate with someone else. An obituary tries to bridge that gap by sharing essential information in a thoughtful, respectful way.
Telling others about the death of a loved one clearly, honestly and with warmth can feel overwhelming. We hope this guide helps you approach it in a way that feels more manageable.
Key takeaways:
The art of understanding how to break bad news is so nuanced and emotional that it may feel like you will be unable to handle it. Some people find the words come naturally, especially if they’re used to writing this kind of message in their work. But for many of us, it’s not like that.
If you feel unsure where to start, or disconnected from the process of writing an obituary, please know you’re not alone. Taking a step back and understanding its purpose may help you feel more prepared for what’s needed right now.
An obituary is both a death announcement and a tribute. It lets people know what has happened, while also honouring the person who has died in a personal and thoughtful way. Many people use it to reflect on a loved one’s life, legacy and values, at a time when their loss is still very raw.
Finding the right balance between sharing key details and expressing something personal can feel daunting. That’s why funeral announcement examples can be so helpful. They offer guidance and reassurance, showing how others have approached this task in their own words. Looking at a few can help you feel more confident about what to include and how to say it.
If you look at a sample obituary as a way to figure out how to announce a death to friends, you will see that there are certain key elements that always seem to be included. While we would never wish to make you feel like you have to copy an example or follow a template, you may find that taking a closer look at how others have approached this sensitive issue helps.
At a time when it may feel hard to stay focused on the task, given the complex emotions you are understandably processing, a checklist may help you to make sure nothing is missed. Here are the key pieces of information an obituary will typically include:
You may also feel it is important to add a personal touch to the obituary as you come to terms with what has happened. Mentioning significant accomplishments, career, and community involvement are all ways that you can do this, and it could be an opportunity to start paying your respects in a way that you feel comfortable with.
Because of the importance of accuracy and clarity, and given the emotions you may be contending with right now, you may wish to ask a close friend to check what you have written. Simple mistakes like the wrong time or date for the funeral can be easily made at times like these, so having someone to double-check the details may be very reassuring.
Knowing what to do when someone dies is something that many of us struggle with, and there is no shame in admitting that we may not know how to proceed. When it comes to putting written information in the public domain, adopting a respectful, heartfelt choice of language really matters. Many friends and colleagues may be hearing about the death of your loved one for the first time by reading the obituary, so softening the way the announcement is made may be greatly appreciated.
That said, there is also a need for informative language in places to make sure that everyone is aware of the funeral arrangements. Spending a little extra time on elements of personalisation while maintaining dignity and sensitivity is something that may also help you begin to heal. By putting the words on paper, you may find that you can take small steps towards coming to terms with what has happened.
Finding ways to announce a death is something that many of us may have to face at some point in our lives, but it is a highly complex process. The relationship we have with the person who has died, how they died, and how old they were will all affect how the obituary comes together. For example, knowing what to do when someone dies in hospital of old age may be very different from knowing what to do when a younger loved one dies unexpectedly.
Honouring your mother or father with an obituary that you feel does their legacy and impact on your life justice is a deeply moving thing to have to do. This can feel especially complex if you’re coping with the death of an estranged parent. If you find that you are unsure how to begin, it may help to consider the following example:
It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved father, Edward, who left us on 25/2/2025 at the age of 87. Surrounded by his loving family and friends in his final moments, he was a man of incredible humour and much wisdom, cherishing every moment spent with his loved ones.
Taking time to reflect on parental roles, family bonds, and life lessons that have come from your late parent are all things that could help you find the words. Remembering that no one is expecting literary perfection from you is also important. Yes, you want to do your late parent justice and pay tribute to them in a way that you feel comfortable with, but being kind to yourself at times when the words may not come easily is also really important.
Writing about the death of your husband or wife is something that may leave you in a state of profound shock, and understandably so. You may find some sense of support or guidance in the following example:
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Karly Robinson, 55, on 25/6/2025 at her home in Barnstaple. She was born on 22/5/1975 in Reading. Karly is survived by her loving husband, John, their children, Edward and Tommy, and their grandchildren, Finley and Lewis. She was a warm and kind soul who saw the good in everyone and enjoyed a laugh and a joke, and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. A memorial service will be held on 22/07/2025 at 10:30 at Barnstaple Crematorium. In place of flowers, donations can be made to the NSPCC in her memory.
Using the above example as a starting point and then adapting it in your own way may help. For example, you could add your own words to describe the love, partnership, and shared life experiences the two of you had.
You might find that it helps to consider a template approach that you can then adapt in your own way. Rather than risking being generic, the following templates serve as guides that help ensure nothing is missed and that you still have time and space for personal reflection.
If you are announcing a death on Facebook and using one of the above templates as inspiration, remembering to have flexibility in tone depending on the closeness of your relationship is important. Taking a moment to show your intended post to someone else who knew the person who died may help reassure you that you are taking a suitable approach.
We also wish to share a few shorter samples for death notices, newspapers, or funeral programs, in case you find them useful. We have presented them in template form to make it easier to determine which pieces of personal information need to be added.
It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of [Full Name], [Age], on [Date]. A celebration of [First Name’s] life will be held at [Location] on [Date] at [Time].
With a heavy heart, I wish to share the passing of [Full Name], who died peacefully on [Date] at the age of [Age]. A funeral service will be held at [Location] on [Date] at [Time]. Donations to [Charity] in place of flowers are appreciated and are what [First Name] wished.
Sometimes, brief, concise announcements like those above may feel right, and there is nothing wrong with this. No one will think that you are being overly clinical or detached, and they will respect the way you have chosen to make the announcement. Having someone double-check the key details, such as times and dates, may help provide you with added peace of mind.
If you are under emotional strain and finding it hard to work through the many practical steps involved with the death of a loved one, an obituary template may provide reassurance. We also understand if you feel that using a template somehow gives less thought to what you are saying. If you feel this way, we’d like to notice something. If you wanted to know how to plan a funeral, you would think nothing of reading a short guide. A template is the equivalent when you want to create an obituary that you feel comfortable with.
Newspapers and online platforms will have their own formatting guidelines, and they may vary from one to the next. They will, however, be very easy to follow and something you can easily pick up by reading a couple of existing obituaries. As a general rule, an obituary will typically be within 200-300 words in length and written in formal, heartfelt language.
If you find the prospect of submitting the obituary overwhelming, you may find that listening to one of the many grief podcasts helps. Even if you don’t find an episode specifically about the writing and submission process, hearing people talk about death and what comes next may help you to gradually come to terms with what has happened. To many of us, writing the obituary is the first time we publicly acknowledge the death of our loved one, so hearing others talk about it with freedom and compassion is something that may really help.
We hope that by sharing some practical writing tips, we can help you to remove some elements of anxiety and upset from the writing process:
You may also find that you can find some sense of direction and clarity by reading one or two books about grief when you feel emotionally ready. Seeing how the writers express sensitivity and compassion through appropriate word choices is something that may help guide and direct you at this difficult time.
If you feel comfortable asking, you may find that seeking advice from funeral directors, clergy, or newspaper editors is something that can help. And if you prefer not to ask in person, there are a variety of online obituary writing services to seek out.
The simple act of asking for help and seeking guidance may well empower you to express yourself in a way that you never thought you could. Exactly what you want to hear when you’re looking to set the tone for a moving, thoughtful funeral or memorial service.
We want you to know that we are here for so much more than the prepaid funeral plans that we focus much of our attention on. As a family-run funeral provider, we completely understand the importance of private moments and sensitivity at all times, which is why we create guides like this.
By putting together guidance based on our experience and thoughtful reflections, we hope that you find something to anchor yourself to in the days ahead. We know that finding the right words at a time like this may be the last thing you want to have to force yourself to try and do, but we also know the healing that can follow such journeys. We are right here with you, no matter what life delivers at your door, and we feel that being here is the least that we can do.
If you have any questions, would like a brochure or simply would like a chat through our services, our award-winning team is here to help.
Unlike other providers, we won’t hassle you with constant calls. We’ll simply ensure you have the information you need and leave you to come to a decision in your own time. When you’re ready for us, our team will be ready to help.
Simple obituary examples may only be a few lines long, and longer obituaries are typically within 200-300 words in length. If you are submitting the obituary to appear in print, the editor will likely tell you of any length restrictions when you first make contact with them.
Make sure to include your loved one’s full name, age, date and place of birth, date and place of death, and details about their life. Personal elements such as their occupation, education, interests, and surviving family may all help. You will also want to make sure that you include accurate information about the funeral service, such as the date, time, and location. The obituary is also the place to say whether donations are preferred instead of flowers.
Many people choose to avoid any specific mention of the cause of death in case those reading it feel upset or that the obituary is somehow insensitive. Private information, such as any financial arrangements related to the reading of the will or the date on which the will is scheduled to be read, should also be avoided. The other thing you may wish to consider is avoiding using informal or overly familiar language that may cause distress to those who are hearing of the death for the first time.
Taking some time to sit and reflect on one of the templates offered above may provide you with a natural starting point. You can then gradually insert the key details such as times and dates, so you can ensure that nothing is missed or overlooked. Once you are satisfied that you have covered all of the practical elements that are needed, you could then turn to the more personal side of things.
Mentioning your loved one’s hobbies, interests, surviving family, and personality traits could help you to feel a deeper connection with what you have written. Exactly what is needed when you want to turn writing the obituary from a practical task into a key step on your healing journey.