Obituary Examples

Short obituary example (newspaper)

"James Robert Miller, 82, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on May 3, 2026. Born in Akron to Walter and Edna Miller, he served in the U.S. Navy and worked for 38 years as an electrician. He loved fishing, the Buckeyes and his Saturday breakfasts with friends. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol; his sons, Mark (Julie) and Steven; and four grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Friday, May 8, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church."

This version is about 90 words – ideal when a newspaper charges by the line.

Obituary example for a mother

"Linda Grace Ortiz, 68, of San Antonio, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, surrounded by her family. Linda was born in Laredo and raised five children with a fierce, joyful love that made her home the center of every holiday. For 25 years she worked as a school secretary, where generations of students knew her as the person who always had a bandage, a snack and a kind word. She loved gardening, telenovelas and dancing at every wedding. Linda is survived by her husband, Ricardo; her children, Daniel, Maria, Sofia, Luis and Ana; and eleven grandchildren, who were the light of her life."

Obituary example for a father

"Thomas Edward Grant, 74, of Raleigh, North Carolina, went home to be with the Lord on September 9, 2026. A steady presence and a man of few but well-chosen words, Tom spent 40 years running the family hardware store, where he was happiest helping a neighbor find exactly the right part. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church, a patient fishing teacher and a dreadful – but enthusiastic – singer. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his daughters, Karen and Beth; and six grandchildren."

Celebration of life example

"Danielle 'Dani' Reyes, 45, of Portland, Oregon, left this world on July 21, 2026, after a courageous fight with cancer – and she'd want you to know she did it her way. Dani was a nurse, a trail runner, a terrible cook and a wonderful friend. She collected people the way others collect souvenirs. In place of a traditional funeral, please join us for a celebration of life at Laurelhurst Park on August 2 at 4 PM. Wear something bright, bring a story, and remember Dani with a smile."

Obituary example for a veteran

"Harold Lee Jackson, 96, of Mobile, Alabama, passed away on November 1, 2026. Harold proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later spent 30 years with the postal service. A lifelong member of the VFW, he never missed a Veterans Day parade. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mae, and survived by his children, Carl and Denise, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Full military honors will be rendered at the graveside service."

Obituary example for a grandparent

"Rose Kowalski, 93, of Milwaukee, beloved 'Babcia' to fourteen grandchildren, passed away on March 30, 2026. Rose came to America at 19 with one suitcase and built a life full of pierogi, polka and prayer. She is survived by her children, her grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, all of whom learned to roll dough at her kitchen table."

What makes these examples work

Each one includes the essential facts but spends most of its words on specifics – the hardware store, the bandage and snack, the one suitcase. Those details are what readers remember. Notice too that every example has a clear tone, and that tone stays consistent from beginning to end.

Write your own

You're welcome to borrow structure or phrases from these examples. Or try our free obituary writer: answer a few questions, choose a tone, and get a complete draft to edit. Learn more in our guide on how to write an obituary, then add it to a matching funeral program.