An obituary tells people that someone has died, shares the service details, and gives a short picture of the life they lived. It doesn’t need to be long or perfect. Here’s a simple way to write one.
What to include
- The announcement: full name, age, where they lived and the date they died.
- Their life: where they were born and grew up, work, faith, service, hobbies and what they loved.
- Family: the people they leave behind, and those who died before them.
- Service details: the visitation, funeral or memorial, with dates, times and places.
- Donations or flowers: whether the family asks for donations to a charity instead of flowers.
A simple template
[Full name], [age], of [neighborhood], died on [date]. Born in [place], [first name] [a sentence or two about their life: work, family, faith, what they loved]. [He/She/They] is survived by [family members], and was predeceased by [family members]. Visitation will be held at Guida Funeral Home, 47-20 104th Street, Corona, on [date and time]. A funeral [Mass/service] will take place at [place] on [date and time], followed by [burial/cremation details]. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [charity].
Tips for writing it
- Write the facts first, then add the personal details.
- Ask family members for a favorite memory or detail.
- Keep it to a length that feels right; short obituaries are fine.
- Read it aloud, and have someone check names, dates and spellings.
- Families who prefer another language can write the obituary in it, or in two languages.
Sharing the obituary
We post obituaries for the families we serve on our website, with the service details and directions. You can also share the link with family and friends.
Questions about an obituary? Please call us at (718) 424-2000, any hour, day or night – we are here to answer your questions.