Sample Obituary Formats

Here you will find plenty of resources to help when writing an obituary, including a video on writing an obituary, links to great resources, a related book of famous obituaries and other related information.

What Is An Obituary?

At its most basic level, an obituary is a notice of death and the funeral arrangements, written in a newspaper. However, an obituary can serve as more than just the notice of death. It can inform readers where to send memorial donations, give a sense of the person who died and also serve as a way to remember those close to the deceased.

When well-written, an obituary can invoke a sense of who the person was and how he or she lived his or her life. It is the final official observance of the person who as passed away, and writing a well-crafted obituary is an important job.

In this hub, you will learn more about how to write a great obituary.

The Last Word the New York Times Book of Obituaries and Farewells: A Celebration of Unusual Lives (Paperback)

The Last Word the New York Times Book of Obituaries and Farewells: A Celebration of Unusual Lives

It is nearly impossible to name a favorite farewell among the 100 honored in this compilation of obituaries (few if any famous names are included). In his foreword, Russell Baker takes a light, reverential approach to the obits that follow. Among those honored is Jerry Siegel, who created Superman, eventually a billion-dollar industry, and who sold the rights to the man from Krypton for $130. Then there's Elizabeth Paepcke, the artistic-minded developer of Aspen, who, among her many aspirations, sought to weed the mountains of thistles, and Immaculata Cuomo, mother of the former New York governor. Taken collectively, these obituaries are like a hallelujah chorus, praising the accomplishments of the living. Editor Siegel, assistant to the managing editor of the New York Times, and all the obit writers whose work appears here deserve a similar chorus of thanks.

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