An obituary honors your loved one's life and informs others of their passing. Writing an obituary while you're grieving is a difficult task. To write a brief but thoughtful obituary, gather essential details about the deceased. Then, decide on the format, create a clear title and introduction, and add personal touches. Moreover, you should add details about family members, education, and achievements. Make sure you double-check all the details and modify them as needed.
Steps For Writing Short But Meaningful Obituaries
Here’s how to write an obituary while keeping it short and heartfelt:
1. Gather Information
The first step is to gather all the important information about the deceased. Write down their full name, age, date of birth, date of death, and the names of their close family members. Make a short list of their most important achievements, hobbies, and qualities that made them who they were.
2. Choose the Right Format
Choose a format that fits the newspaper’s or online obituary publishing guidelines. Also, make sure to keep your personal preferences in mind. If you’re going to publish in a newspaper, you must be concise because they frequently charge by the line or word. You'll have more space for an online obituary, allowing you to arrange the information more clearly.
3. Add Obituary Title and Introduction
Start by making it clear that the person has passed away. In the first sentence, write their full name, age, and the date they died. It tells people right away what they need to know. After that, say where they lived, what they did for a living, or what their role was in the community. Write this part in a simple, warm way. For example: "John Smith, 78, of Phoenix, died peacefully on April 2, 2025, with his family by his side." John changed many people's lives as a determined teacher and community volunteer.
4. Add a Personal Touch
Introduce something special that shows who your loved one is, even if there isn't much space. You could use a short sentence to describe a hobby, a favorite quote, or a quality. These small details make a simple message into a tribute that means a lot. Talk about how funny they were all the time or how much they cared about people. It adds a human touch that helps people connect with the person on a deeper level than just numbers and facts.
5. Include Important Details
Put the most important information first: full name, age, date of death, names of immediate family members, and facts about the service. If space allows, briefly describe where they were born, their parents, their education, the most important parts of their career, and any important community work they had done. For short obituaries, talk about the person's close family and burial plans.
6. Review and Edit
After writing your draft, check it carefully for mistakes and unnecessary words. Take out overused phrases and statements, but keep the important information. Ask a family member you trust to look over your draft.
Don't forget that being brief doesn't mean you're cold or impersonal. It means you need to make every word work to get the same message across in fewer words by using more meaningful language.
7. Finalize Details
Check all the facts twice, especially the names, time of death, and funeral service details. Make sure the obituary answers the most common questions people will have about passing and funeral services. You should also ensure that any requests for donations or specific directions are written out clearly. Before sending the obituary, check with the newspaper or funeral home to confirm the date and cost.
Examples of a Short Obituary
Structure
[Full Name], aged [age of the deceased], passed away peacefully on [date of death] at [location of death]. He/she was born on [date of birth], in [birthplace], to [names of parents]. He/she was a proud resident of [city of residence] and was a [Year] graduate of [Institute Name].
If married, then mention [Husband's Name], who is [Husband’s Age], Children [Child Name], and grandchildren [Names]. A devoted [Profession] at [Work Place Name], [Hobby]. A memorial service will be held [Date and Day] at [Funeral Service Name].
Example
Mary Johnson, aged 84, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025, at Phoenix Memorial Hospital. She was born on June 12, 1940, in Tempe to Robert and Elizabeth Wilson. She was a proud resident of Phoenix and was a 1958 graduate of Holy Cross High School.
Mary is survived by her husband, James, who is 60 years old; her children, Susan (Robert) and Michael (Jennifer); and her four grandchildren. A devoted teacher for 35 years, Mary loved gardening and volunteering at the animal shelter. A memorial service will be held Saturday at First Community Church.
Conclusion
You don't have to write long paragraphs or use complicated wording to create a meaningful obituary for your loved one. You can honor your loved one's memory by gathering important information, picking the right format, writing a clear introduction, adding personal touches, including important details, editing carefully, and ensuring all the information is correct. By following these seven steps, even a short obituary in Phoenix can help tell the story of a person's life and impact.
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