Obituary writer / Examples
Obituary examples in three styles
The same made-up person, written three ways. Choose the one that sounds like your family.
Eleanor Grace Whitfield
1941 to 2026
Eleanor Grace Whitfield, 84, of Dayton, Ohio, died on March 2 at home with her family beside her.
Eleanor was born in Xenia, the youngest of five, and taught third grade at Fairview Elementary for 31 years. Former students still stopped her at the grocery store to read her their grandchildren's report cards.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert; her children, Anne and Paul; and six grandchildren. A service will be held Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at Grace Methodist Church. In place of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the Dayton Metro Library.
Eleanor Grace Whitfield
1941 to 2026
Eleanor Whitfield kept a coffee can of sharpened pencils in every room of her house, in case anybody needed to write something down. She died on March 2 at 84, and we expect to be finding those pencils for years.
For 31 years she taught third graders at Fairview Elementary to love long division, or at least to survive it. She grew tomatoes nobody could finish and lost at Scrabble only when she felt sorry for you.
Robert, her husband of 58 years, Anne, Paul and six grandchildren invite you to remember her Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at Grace Methodist Church. Bring a story. Gifts can go to the Dayton Metro Library.
Eleanor Grace Whitfield
1941 to 2026
Eleanor G. Whitfield, 84, of Dayton, a retired teacher, died March 2. Survivors include her husband, Robert; children, Anne and Paul; and six grandchildren. Service Saturday, March 8, 11 a.m., Grace Methodist Church. Gifts to the Dayton Metro Library.
Eleanor is a made-up person. This example shows the three styles you get.
Examples by relationship
Obituary for a mother
What to include, and a made-up example.
Obituary for a father
A way to begin when he never talked about himself.
Obituary for a husband
Writing about your spouse when it hurts to write at all.
Obituary for a wife
Keep it hers, not only a list of roles.
Obituary for a child
Short, gentle, and only what you want to share.
Obituary for a brother or sister
When you're the one who knows the old stories.
Obituary for a grandparent
A long life, without listing every year of it.