What to Include in an Obituary – A Helpful Checklist

Writing an obituary can feel overwhelming. Here’s a helpful checklist to guide you through the essentials.

✅ Basic Facts

• Full name (and nickname if used)
• Date of birth and date of death
• Age
• Location of death

✅ Life Summary

• Place of birth and upbringing
• Education or career
• Hobbies, passions, values
• Faith, military service, or volunteer work

✅ Family

• Survived by: spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.
• Preceded in death by: close relatives who passed earlier

✅ Service Info

• Date, time, and location
• Public or private
• Any special requests ("In lieu of flowers...")

✅ Final Touch

• A favorite quote, song lyric, or personal note

---

Tip: Don’t feel pressured to include everything. Speak from the heart, and keep the tone authentic to the person you’re honoring.