When someone you love dies, writing an obituary can feel like a difficult task. Many families worry about finding the right words, deciding what information to include, or figuring out where to publish it.
The good news is that an obituary does not need to be long or perfect. Its purpose is to share the news of a person’s passing, celebrate their life, and help family and friends remember what made them special.
Today, many obituaries appear online rather than only in newspapers. Online obituaries allow families to share photos, videos, memories, service information, and condolences with relatives and friends who may live across the country or around the world.
Whether you are writing a simple death notice or a detailed life story, this guide will walk you through what to include in an obituary, provide examples you can follow, and answer common questions Houston families often have after the loss of a loved one.
Quick Answer: How Do You Write an Obituary?
To write an obituary, start with your loved one’s full name, age, city, and date of death. Then include a few meaningful details about their life, close family members, and any memorial or remembrance plans.
A good obituary does not have to be long. It should clearly share the news of the passing, honor the person’s life, and help family and friends know where to find service details, online memorial information, or a place to leave condolences.
Today, many obituaries appear online rather than only in newspapers. Online obituaries through Birdsong Cremations can include photos, videos, memories, service information, and a place for family and friends to share condolences.
What Is an Obituary?
An obituary is a written notice that shares the news of a person’s death and gives family, friends, and the community a way to remember their life. It usually includes basic details such as the person’s name, age, date of death, family members, and any service or remembrance plans.
An obituary does not have to tell every detail of a person’s life. It simply needs to honor them clearly, kindly, and in a way that feels right for the family.
An obituary can be short and simple, or it can tell a fuller story about someone’s personality, family, work, faith, hobbies, and the moments that made their life meaningful.
Today, many families publish online obituaries instead of only placing a notice in the newspaper. Online obituaries through Birdsong Cremations can include photos, videos, memories, service information, and a place where family and friends can share condolences.
What Is the Purpose of an Obituary?
Common reasons families write an obituary include:
- Sharing the news of a loved one’s passing
- Honoring the person’s life, personality, and legacy
- Giving family and friends service or remembrance details
- Providing a place for others to share condolences
- Helping relatives and friends stay connected, especially when they live far apart
- Creating a lasting written memory for future generations
An obituary gives families a simple way to share important information while also honoring the life behind the announcement. Whether it is short, detailed, printed, or shared online, the goal is the same: to help others remember, connect, and show support.
Writing down names, dates, and meaningful memories can help families organize an obituary with care.
What Should Be Included in an Obituary?
Most obituaries include a few basic details about the person who has died, along with information the family would like to share about their life and any memorial or remembrance plans.
You do not have to include every detail. A simple obituary can still feel personal and meaningful when it focuses on the most important parts of someone’s life.
Common details to include in an obituary are:
- Full name, including a maiden name or nickname if appropriate
- Age
- City and state of residence
- Date of death
- Surviving family members
- Family members who died before them, if the family wishes to include it
- A few meaningful details about their life, career, faith, military service, hobbies, or community involvement
- Service, celebration of life, visitation, or remembrance details
- Cremation information, if the family wishes to include it
- Donation, flower, or memorial gift preferences
- A photo, if publishing the obituary online
How Much Detail Should You Include?
The amount of detail depends entirely on the family’s wishes. Some families choose to write a brief obituary that shares only the essentials, while others prefer a longer tribute that tells the story of their loved one’s life.
If you are unsure where to start, begin with the basic information and add a few personal details that help others remember who your loved one was.
A helpful obituary usually answers three simple questions:
- Who passed away?
- What made this person special?
- How can family and friends honor or remember them?
An obituary does not need to follow a strict formula. Some families prefer a brief announcement, while others choose to tell a more complete life story. The most important thing is to write something that reflects the person’s life and feels meaningful to those who loved them.
An obituary does not need to include private family matters, sensitive financial information, home addresses, or anything the family is not comfortable sharing publicly.
Simple Obituary Template
If you are not sure where to begin, use this simple obituary template as a starting point. You can keep it short or add more details as your family feels ready.
[Full Name], age [age], of [city, state], passed away on [date of death].
[First name] was born on [date of birth] in [city, state] to [parents’ names]. They will be remembered for [brief description of personality, faith, work, hobbies, family role, or special qualities].
They are survived by [list close family members]. They were preceded in death by [list loved ones, if desired].
A [service, celebration of life, visitation, private family remembrance, or ash scattering ceremony] will be held [date, time, and location, or “at a later date”].
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [charity, church, organization, or cause], if desired.
Families can also add photos, videos, memories, and a place for others to share condolences when publishing an online obituary through Birdsong Cremations.
Short Obituary Example
A short obituary can be a good choice when the family wants to share the basic information without writing a long life story.
Note: The example below is fictional and provided only to show obituary wording and structure.
Maria Elena Garcia, 78, of Houston, Texas, passed away on March 12, 2026.
Maria was born in San Antonio, Texas, and spent most of her life caring for her family and serving her community. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Ana Garcia and Rosa Martinez; her son, David Garcia; seven grandchildren; and two sisters. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos Garcia.
A private family remembrance will be held at a later date.
Longer Obituary Example
A longer obituary gives the family more room to share personal details, meaningful memories, and the story of a loved one’s life. This can be helpful when the family wants to include career, faith, military service, community involvement, hobbies, or special family memories.
There is no required length for an obituary. Some families write a few short paragraphs, while others choose to share a more detailed tribute.
Note: The example below is fictional and provided only to show obituary wording and structure.
James Robert Mitchell, 84, of Spring, Texas, passed away on April 8, 2026.
James was born in Houston, Texas, and spent most of his life serving his family, his church, and his community. He worked for many years as an electrician and was known for his patience, strong work ethic, and willingness to help anyone in need.
He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, watching Astros baseball, and telling stories about growing up in Texas. More than anything, James loved being a husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
James is survived by his wife, Linda Mitchell; his children, Mark Mitchell, Susan Carter, and David Mitchell; six grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Helen Mitchell, and his brother, Thomas Mitchell.
A celebration of life will be held in Houston at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity meaningful to the family.
What Not to Include in an Obituary
An obituary should honor your loved one while also protecting the family’s privacy. An obituary should honor your loved one while also protecting the family’s privacy. Online obituaries can reach many people, so review personal or sensitive details carefully before publishing.
Details families may want to leave out include:
- Home addresses
- Personal phone numbers
- Financial information
- Sensitive medical details
- Private family disagreements
- Exact travel plans
- Information about valuables or an empty home
- Anything the family is not ready to share publicly
Families can still write a warm, meaningful obituary without including every personal detail. A simple phrase such as “passed away peacefully” or “passed away surrounded by family” may be enough if the family does not want to share medical information.
Protecting Privacy in an Online Obituary
Online obituaries make it easier for family and friends to share memories, photos, and condolences, but they also make information easier to find. Before publishing, take a moment to review the obituary as if a stranger could read it.
Consider whether any detail could create a privacy concern, cause family tension, or share more than your family feels comfortable sharing. When in doubt, keep the wording simple and focus on honoring the life being remembered.
An obituary should bring people together, not create stress for the family. Keeping private information out of the obituary can help protect loved ones while still giving others a meaningful way to remember and offer support.
Where Can You Publish an Obituary Today?
Today, families have more options than placing an obituary in a printed newspaper. Many obituaries now appear online, where family and friends can read them, share memories, view photos, and leave condolences from wherever they live.
Common places to publish an obituary include:
- An online obituary page
- A funeral home or cremation provider’s website
- A local newspaper website
- A printed newspaper
- A church or community newsletter
- A social media page
- A memorial program for a celebration of life or remembrance gathering
Online obituaries through Birdsong Cremations can include photos, videos, memories, service information, and a place where family and friends can share condolences. Families can also easily share the obituary link on social media, which can be especially helpful when relatives and friends live in different cities or cannot attend a gathering in person.
Some families also publish an obituary because a church, organization, employer, benefits office, or other institution has asked for a public notice or written announcement. Requirements can vary, so it is best to ask that institution exactly what they need before publishing. A certified death certificate may still be necessary for legal, financial, or benefits-related matters.
An obituary does not have to appear everywhere. The right place to publish it depends on who your family wants to reach and whether you want a private or public announcement. Many families choose an online obituary because it creates a lasting place where photos, memories, and condolences can remain available for years to come.
Can an Obituary Mention Cremation?
Yes. An obituary can mention cremation if the family wants to include it. Some families keep this wording very simple. Others mention a celebration of life, private family remembrance, ash scattering ceremony, or future memorial gathering.
Cremation wording can stay simple. Families can write that Birdsong Cremations is assisting with cremation arrangements or that the family will gather privately after cremation.
Examples of cremation obituary wording include:
- Birdsong Cremations is assisting the family with cremation arrangements.
- The family has chosen cremation and will hold a private remembrance at a later date.
- The family will plan a celebration of life after cremation.
- The family will gather for an ash scattering ceremony at a later date.
- A private family memorial will take place after cremation.
Families may also choose not to mention cremation at all. The obituary should reflect the family’s wishes and only include the details they feel comfortable sharing.
FAQs About Writing an Obituary
How do you start writing an obituary?
Start with your loved one’s full name, age, city, and date of death. From there, add a few meaningful details about their life, family, personality, and any service or remembrance plans. If you feel stuck, using a simple obituary template can make the process easier.
What should you include in an obituary?
Most obituaries include the person’s full name, age, date of death, city of residence, surviving family members, family members who preceded them in death, and any service or memorial details. Families may also include hobbies, faith, career, military service, community involvement, photos, or donation information.
Does an obituary have to be long?
No. An obituary can be short and still be meaningful. Some families choose a brief notice with basic information, while others write a longer tribute that shares more of their loved one’s life story. The right length depends on what your family wants to share.
Can an obituary mention cremation?
Yes. Families can mention cremation in an obituary. They can write that Birdsong Cremations is helping with cremation arrangements, or they can simply say the family plans to hold a celebration of life after cremation.
Where can families publish an obituary?
Families can publish an obituary online, through a cremation provider or funeral home website, in a newspaper, on social media, in a church newsletter, or in a memorial program. Many families now choose online obituaries because they can include photos, videos, memories, and condolences.
What should you not include in an obituary?
Avoid sharing private information such as home addresses, personal phone numbers, financial details, sensitive medical information, family disagreements, travel plans, or anything the family is not comfortable sharing publicly. An obituary can honor someone’s life without sharing every personal detail.
Final Thoughts: Writing an Obituary With Care
Writing an obituary can feel emotional, but it does not have to be overwhelming. Start with the basic details, add a few meaningful memories, and choose wording that feels honest and respectful.
Whether your family writes a short announcement or a longer tribute, the goal is to honor your loved one and give others a way to remember, support, and stay connected.
For Houston families choosing cremation, Birdsong Cremations can help with simple direct cremation arrangements and online obituaries that allow family and friends to share photos, memories, and condolences.
