How to Write an Obituary

How to Write an Obituary

An obituary is part public notice of death and part tribute, which is why it seems that only professional writers can write a great one. But this is not necessarily true. Using the framework used by funeral homes in Prince Albert, SK, you too can craft a moving obituary for your loved one.



Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how to write an obituary.

Collect the facts

There are specific details an obituary must have to serve its purpose to the family and potential reader. At minimum, these are name, age, place of birth, date, and place of death.

You can also include career and marriage history, accomplishments, and surviving family members.

Two reasons to collect these facts before doing any writing. One, to avoid forgetting critical details about the deceased. You will have relevant information to make it a comprehensive and informative obituary.

Second, to enable flow. Having the facts laid out makes it easier to weave them into a compelling narrative that captures the deceased’s life.

Announce the death

With all facts in place, start by announcing the deceased’s death. The first paragraph sets the obituary’s context, tone, and style. And it should pass the following basic information:

“On Friday, December 6, 2022, Mary Jane, loving wife, mother of three, and beloved sister, passed away at 80.”

The exact wording is up to you. It can be dry and matter-of-factly like the above or more flowery and poetic as long as the specific information is expressed.

Craft a personality profile of the deceased

This is the meat of the obituary. The goal here is to paint a word picture of who the deceased person was. Their love life, passions, hobbies, career, and accomplishments. All weaved into a beautiful tribute to the departed.

Here is where you can tap into the tricks used by professional writers. Use descriptive language and anecdotes to sketch out the deceased’s biographical history. Aligning the tone and style to their personality is another way to breathe life into the obituary.

Write from the heart. Think about how the deceased would like to be remembered and how those who survive them do.

This part of the obit can be as many paragraphs as you want. However, don’t forget you may be charged per word, especially if it’s in a newspaper. So, write what you can afford.

Mention the surviving family

After the personality section, use a paragraph listing the surviving family members. Notably those you didn’t mention in the profile.

You can go with something straightforward like, “Alongside her husband and children, Mary is survived by her sisters, Janet and Tiffany, four cousins and three nieces.”

Again, the wording doesn’t have to line up like this as long as you pass the core message.

Share the funeral information

The final paragraph concludes the obituary. It’s for the funeral information, including the date, venue, and time. This part of the obit includes other details you may wish to share with the public. Like where to send donations, if flowers are allowed, and where to deliver them.

And that’s how to write an obituary. When you finish, share the draft with friends and family to ensure accuracy and that you’re not missing an important fact.

As for other aspects of funeral planning, we can help with that. Contact us if you need a funeral home in Prince Albert, SK, to help with arrangements. We will work with you to create a befitting farewell for your loved one.