It’s a difficult time, facing the loss of a loved one, but it’s also a crucial time to honor their memory. Figuring out how to honor them will be part of your grieving process. As difficult as it may be, writing an obituary can be therapeutic in helping you start to capture the details of your loved one’s life.
If you aren’t sure where to start, here a few tips to help you. Keep in mind that an obituary tends to get in as many details as possible while being succinct. At the same, time you want to allow for the personality and the life of the person you are writing about to come through. To write an obituary that captures the spirit of the loved one who has passed think about not only what they did, but what they were like as a person. Focus on hobbies, passions, and personal characteristic. At the same time, don’t try to list every detail: try to capture the guiding force or principle of their life story.
Below is a template with an example.
You might find it help to compose yours own in this document just below the example pieces and then delete the example. You will notice that my obituary doesn’t follow the template exactly—yours doesn’t have to either, it’s just a place to start.
Full Name including Maiden Name & Title if applicable died/passed away in location on date in City, State at the age of age.
Example: Kawatha Sue Sweet Baecht passed away just before noon on June 20, 2005, in Wilson N. Jones hospital at the age of 62.
Name was born on date in City, State to Parent Names. He/she graduated from School in year with a degree in field. He/she married Name, his/her high school sweetheart/a mechanical engineer/etc. in year. After moving to Location, Name began working for Company as a position. Over period of time, the couple welcomed number children into their home and Name set about teaching them skill/trade. His/her children remember him/her as a kind/gentle/patient/driven father/mother who encouraged them to . .
Name was accomplished at skill/talent and often example of talent. He/she was a generous/witty/dedicated individual who loved subject and who was passionate about changing the world/educating students/etc. He/she was an active and dedicated member of the Church/Club/etc. and often volunteered at location.
Example: She was born December 15, 1942, in Denison, Texas to Susie and Hubert Sweet. She graduated from Denison High School and went on to earn her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southeastern University. She married her love and best friend, Joseph Baecht in 1966, and on June third of this year, they celebrated their thirty-ninth wedding anniversary by returning to a picnic place where they had courted forty years before. They lived on a farm near Ravenna, Texas for most of their married life and had two daughters, Katrina Baecht and Kathryn Baecht. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
She dedicated thirty years of her life to teaching English and Spanish. She touched the lives of many of her students who would often come back and visit. The last twenty-five years of her career, she taught at Savoy High School, where among others, she taught her two daughters—Katrina has followed in her footsteps and teaches English. Kathryn, also inspired by her mother’s teaching, pursues a career in writing. Despite a hard struggle with cancer, she completed her final year of teaching with grace and courage. She was an inspiration to her husband and daughters who will miss her profoundly. Like so many mothers, she held much of the memory of the family and her loss is great.
Name is survived by his/her parents, Name and Name of Location; wife/husband, Name; children, Names; siblings, Names of Locations . He/she is preceded in death by relatives, Names, of Locations.
Example: She was preceded in death by her father, Hubert Sweet. She is survived by her mother Susie Sweet, her husband Joseph Baecht, her daughter Katrina Baecht and Katrina’s fiancé Dustin Parks, her daughter Kathryn Baecht and son-in-law Chris Voss, her siblings Royce Sweet, Wanda Carson, Pasty Hale, David Sweet, and Anna Ford.
If applicable:
A funeral/memorial/service is scheduled for time and date at location, with a reception to follow at location. Title Name will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Name ‘s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Charity/Hospital/person/etc. at address. Condolences can be sent to URL . The family would like to thank caregivers/hospital staff/etc. for his/her/their efforts/care/dedication.