When someone you love passes away, there are a lot of practical tasks to be completed quickly, and facing them can be difficult. Informing family members, planning a funeral, dealing with the paperwork — it all can be overwhelming, especially when you’re grappling with grief.
One of those important tasks is publishing a death announcement. We’ve put together this guide to help you through the process of publishing a death announcement as easily as possible.
When someone you love passes away, there are a lot of practical tasks to be completed quickly, and facing them can be difficult. Informing family members, planning a funeral, dealing with the paperwork — it all can be overwhelming, especially when you’re grappling with grief.
One of those important tasks is publishing a death announcement. We’ve put together this guide to help you through the process of publishing a death announcement as easily as possible.
When someone you love passes away, there are a lot of practical tasks to be completed quickly, and facing them can be difficult. Informing family members, planning a funeral, dealing with the paperwork — it all can be overwhelming, especially when you’re grappling with grief.
One of those important tasks is publishing a death announcement. We’ve put together this guide to help you through the process of publishing a death announcement as easily as possible.
Ready to get started?
Ready to get started?
Ready to get started?
Our ObitWriter® can help you create a death announcement in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® can help you create a death announcement in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® can help you create a death announcement in minutes.
What is a Death Announcement?
A death announcement is what it sounds like: a published statement announcing a person’s passing, for the purpose of sharing that information with the many people who need or would want to know. In addition to friends and family, this also includes all those who may not immediately hear the news through a direct conversation, such as former work colleagues, people they went to school with, and the broader communities of which they were a part.
Death announcements can take various forms, including but not limited to printed notices in newspapers, digital posts on social media platforms, or emails circulated among a close network.
These announcements play several crucial roles. Among the things they accomplish:
· Notify the Community: A death announcement ensures that those who knew the deceased are formally made aware of their passing, rather than relying on the news getting out through informal or insensitive channels.
· Provide Important Details: A death announcement includes vital information such as the date of passing, the cause of death (if the family chooses to share that detail), and perhaps most pragmatically, all the public details of upcoming memorial services or funeral arrangements, as well as options for sending condolences or tributes.
· Facilitate Gifts and Donations: Death announcements will often include details on where to send flowers and gifts — or, in lieu of flowers, details of which charitable organizations the deceased would have wanted their survivors to support.
· Honor the Deceased: In addition to the specific information a death announcement contains, the simple fact of an announcement being published tells the world that here is a person worth remembering.
· Begin the Mourning Process: In many ways, publicly acknowledging your loss initiates the communal grieving process, enabling friends, family, and acquaintances to start their journeys of mourning and healing together.
What Is The Difference Between A Death Announcement And An Obituary?
Though they are similar, there is a difference between death announcements and obituaries.
Death announcements act as a brief notice of someone's passing, are often written by funeral homes, and most importantly, are a means of providing key details about funeral arrangements, donations, and other information to those who may need to know.
Obituaries, on the other hand, are somewhat longer and more detailed accounts of a person's life, and are often written by family members or close friends. They can be thoughtful and creative, and are focused on honoring a person’s life. They serve to tell the world who someone was in life.
In other words, every obituary is also a death announcement — but not every death announcement is also an obituary. When you write an obituary (and even more so, when you write a eulogy), you are crafting a tribute, while a simple death announcement is more informational in nature.
How to Write a Death Announcement
If you need to write a death announcement or provide information to a service that will write one for you, don't worry. The process is straightforward, and you do not need to know how to write an obituary to be able to write an announcement. You should begin with the essentials:
· Name and Date: Include the full name of the deceased, along with their date of passing.
· Short Description: While not mandatory, a sentence including a brief description or mention of the person's major identity points can help make the announcement as clear and definite as possible. This could include their marital status, occupation, or any other significant details that help readers be certain they are reading about the correct person of that name.
· Death Location: Mention the town or city and state where the departed died. You may also mention whether the death occurred at home, in a hospital, or in another location, though this is optional. Again, this helps readers who may not have had contact with the deceased in a while ensure they have the correct person.
· Funeral or Memorial Information: Most importantly, if there will be a funeral or memorial service, include the date, time, and location of the service. This allows friends and family to gather and pay their respects.
· Donation Information: If the family has requested donations in lieu of flowers, include this in the death announcement. This allows readers to honor the deceased by contributing to a cause that was important to them.
Use short, simple, and informative sentences to get across the information above. Remember, this is not an obituary. You do not need to be in-depth or creative. This is a purely informational announcement.
Before publishing or sending out the death announcement, be sure to proofread and edit it for errors or typos. Pay special attention to ensuring that all information is accurate, as once a mistake is in print, you won’t be able to change it.
Finally, once the announcement is in print or online, it can be shared with friends, family, and community members through social media, newspapers, and websites. In many cases, the word will get out without any extra effort needed on your part.
Death Announcement Examples and Templates
Even when following the above guide, you may find it difficult to know where to begin or to know what such an announcement should look like. To assist you in learning how to share the sad news of death, we’ve prepared these obituary examples that may help guide you through the process. Please feel free to use them as death announcement template.
Announcing a Death to Family
“The Williams family are saddened to announce the passing of their mother and matriarch, Paula, who passed on May 7, 2023 at home. She was born December 11, 1956 in Rochester, New York, where she spent most of her life. Memorial services will be held on May 11 at 12:00pm at St. Francis Church, 657 Dobbins Road, Fairport, NY. It will be followed by a reception. Please send donations to the American Cancer Society in her honor.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death to the family:
"The [Family Name] family are saddened to announce the passing of their [Relationship], [Deceased Name], who passed on [Date of Passing] at [Place of Passing].
[Deceased Name] was born [Date of Birth] in [Birth City, State] where [he/she] spent most of [his/her] life.
Memorial services will be held on [Date of Memorial Service] at [Time of Memorial Service] at [Location of Memorial Service]. It will be followed by a reception.
Please send donations to the [Charity Name] in [his/her] honor."
Announcing a Death to Friends
“We are sad to announce the death of Ryan Delgado, my close friend who passed away Thursday, June 17 in Fort Worth, Texas. Ryan taught at Arlington Heights High School and was active in the Fort Worth Model Railroad Association. A memorial will be held on 11am on Sunday, June 21, at Hope Hill Church, 42 Adams Road, Fort Worth.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death to friends.
"We are sad to announce the death of [Deceased Name], my close friend who passed away on [Date of Passing] in [City, State].
[Deceased Name] [Brief description of profession or hobby, e.g., taught at Arlington Heights High School and was active in the Fort Worth Model Railroad Association].
A memorial will be held on [Date of Memorial Service] at [Time of Memorial Service] at [Location of Memorial Service]."
Social Media Death Announcement
“The Whitaker family announces with great sorrow the passing of their beloved uncle, Peter Baker, after a long illness. Born April 18, 1971, he was an avid supporter of the Beachwood Shakespeare in the Park series. His funeral will be held at St. Michael of the Mount Church on February 8 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Clean Ocean Action in Peter’s name. Share your favorite photos of Peter so that we can create a memorial video in his honor.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death on social media:
"The [Family Name] family announces with great sorrow the passing of their beloved [Relationship], [Deceased Name], after a long illness.
Born [Date of Birth], [Deceased Name] was an avid supporter of the [Name of Organization/Event].
His funeral will be held on [Date of Funeral] at [Time of Funeral] at [Location of Funeral].
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to [Charity Name] in [Deceased Name]'s name.
Share your favorite photos of [Deceased Name] so that we can create a memorial video in his honor."
Coping with loss and grief is never easy, but hopefully this overview will have helped you get through this part of the process so you can return your focus to family, loved ones, and getting through this difficult period together.
What is a Death Announcement?
A death announcement is what it sounds like: a published statement announcing a person’s passing, for the purpose of sharing that information with the many people who need or would want to know. In addition to friends and family, this also includes all those who may not immediately hear the news through a direct conversation, such as former work colleagues, people they went to school with, and the broader communities of which they were a part.
Death announcements can take various forms, including but not limited to printed notices in newspapers, digital posts on social media platforms, or emails circulated among a close network.
These announcements play several crucial roles. Among the things they accomplish:
· Notify the Community: A death announcement ensures that those who knew the deceased are formally made aware of their passing, rather than relying on the news getting out through informal or insensitive channels.
· Provide Important Details: A death announcement includes vital information such as the date of passing, the cause of death (if the family chooses to share that detail), and perhaps most pragmatically, all the public details of upcoming memorial services or funeral arrangements, as well as options for sending condolences or tributes.
· Facilitate Gifts and Donations: Death announcements will often include details on where to send flowers and gifts — or, in lieu of flowers, details of which charitable organizations the deceased would have wanted their survivors to support.
· Honor the Deceased: In addition to the specific information a death announcement contains, the simple fact of an announcement being published tells the world that here is a person worth remembering.
· Begin the Mourning Process: In many ways, publicly acknowledging your loss initiates the communal grieving process, enabling friends, family, and acquaintances to start their journeys of mourning and healing together.
What Is The Difference Between A Death Announcement And An Obituary?
Though they are similar, there is a difference between death announcements and obituaries.
Death announcements act as a brief notice of someone's passing, are often written by funeral homes, and most importantly, are a means of providing key details about funeral arrangements, donations, and other information to those who may need to know.
Obituaries, on the other hand, are somewhat longer and more detailed accounts of a person's life, and are often written by family members or close friends. They can be thoughtful and creative, and are focused on honoring a person’s life. They serve to tell the world who someone was in life.
In other words, every obituary is also a death announcement — but not every death announcement is also an obituary. When you write an obituary (and even more so, when you write a eulogy), you are crafting a tribute, while a simple death announcement is more informational in nature.
How to Write a Death Announcement
If you need to write a death announcement or provide information to a service that will write one for you, don't worry. The process is straightforward, and you do not need to know how to write an obituary to be able to write an announcement. You should begin with the essentials:
· Name and Date: Include the full name of the deceased, along with their date of passing.
· Short Description: While not mandatory, a sentence including a brief description or mention of the person's major identity points can help make the announcement as clear and definite as possible. This could include their marital status, occupation, or any other significant details that help readers be certain they are reading about the correct person of that name.
· Death Location: Mention the town or city and state where the departed died. You may also mention whether the death occurred at home, in a hospital, or in another location, though this is optional. Again, this helps readers who may not have had contact with the deceased in a while ensure they have the correct person.
· Funeral or Memorial Information: Most importantly, if there will be a funeral or memorial service, include the date, time, and location of the service. This allows friends and family to gather and pay their respects.
· Donation Information: If the family has requested donations in lieu of flowers, include this in the death announcement. This allows readers to honor the deceased by contributing to a cause that was important to them.
Use short, simple, and informative sentences to get across the information above. Remember, this is not an obituary. You do not need to be in-depth or creative. This is a purely informational announcement.
Before publishing or sending out the death announcement, be sure to proofread and edit it for errors or typos. Pay special attention to ensuring that all information is accurate, as once a mistake is in print, you won’t be able to change it.
Finally, once the announcement is in print or online, it can be shared with friends, family, and community members through social media, newspapers, and websites. In many cases, the word will get out without any extra effort needed on your part.
Death Announcement Examples and Templates
Even when following the above guide, you may find it difficult to know where to begin or to know what such an announcement should look like. To assist you in learning how to share the sad news of death, we’ve prepared these obituary examples that may help guide you through the process. Please feel free to use them as death announcement template.
Announcing a Death to Family
“The Williams family are saddened to announce the passing of their mother and matriarch, Paula, who passed on May 7, 2023 at home. She was born December 11, 1956 in Rochester, New York, where she spent most of her life. Memorial services will be held on May 11 at 12:00pm at St. Francis Church, 657 Dobbins Road, Fairport, NY. It will be followed by a reception. Please send donations to the American Cancer Society in her honor.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death to the family:
"The [Family Name] family are saddened to announce the passing of their [Relationship], [Deceased Name], who passed on [Date of Passing] at [Place of Passing].
[Deceased Name] was born [Date of Birth] in [Birth City, State] where [he/she] spent most of [his/her] life.
Memorial services will be held on [Date of Memorial Service] at [Time of Memorial Service] at [Location of Memorial Service]. It will be followed by a reception.
Please send donations to the [Charity Name] in [his/her] honor."
Announcing a Death to Friends
“We are sad to announce the death of Ryan Delgado, my close friend who passed away Thursday, June 17 in Fort Worth, Texas. Ryan taught at Arlington Heights High School and was active in the Fort Worth Model Railroad Association. A memorial will be held on 11am on Sunday, June 21, at Hope Hill Church, 42 Adams Road, Fort Worth.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death to friends.
"We are sad to announce the death of [Deceased Name], my close friend who passed away on [Date of Passing] in [City, State].
[Deceased Name] [Brief description of profession or hobby, e.g., taught at Arlington Heights High School and was active in the Fort Worth Model Railroad Association].
A memorial will be held on [Date of Memorial Service] at [Time of Memorial Service] at [Location of Memorial Service]."
Social Media Death Announcement
“The Whitaker family announces with great sorrow the passing of their beloved uncle, Peter Baker, after a long illness. Born April 18, 1971, he was an avid supporter of the Beachwood Shakespeare in the Park series. His funeral will be held at St. Michael of the Mount Church on February 8 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Clean Ocean Action in Peter’s name. Share your favorite photos of Peter so that we can create a memorial video in his honor.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death on social media:
"The [Family Name] family announces with great sorrow the passing of their beloved [Relationship], [Deceased Name], after a long illness.
Born [Date of Birth], [Deceased Name] was an avid supporter of the [Name of Organization/Event].
His funeral will be held on [Date of Funeral] at [Time of Funeral] at [Location of Funeral].
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to [Charity Name] in [Deceased Name]'s name.
Share your favorite photos of [Deceased Name] so that we can create a memorial video in his honor."
Coping with loss and grief is never easy, but hopefully this overview will have helped you get through this part of the process so you can return your focus to family, loved ones, and getting through this difficult period together.
What is a Death Announcement?
A death announcement is what it sounds like: a published statement announcing a person’s passing, for the purpose of sharing that information with the many people who need or would want to know. In addition to friends and family, this also includes all those who may not immediately hear the news through a direct conversation, such as former work colleagues, people they went to school with, and the broader communities of which they were a part.
Death announcements can take various forms, including but not limited to printed notices in newspapers, digital posts on social media platforms, or emails circulated among a close network.
These announcements play several crucial roles. Among the things they accomplish:
· Notify the Community: A death announcement ensures that those who knew the deceased are formally made aware of their passing, rather than relying on the news getting out through informal or insensitive channels.
· Provide Important Details: A death announcement includes vital information such as the date of passing, the cause of death (if the family chooses to share that detail), and perhaps most pragmatically, all the public details of upcoming memorial services or funeral arrangements, as well as options for sending condolences or tributes.
· Facilitate Gifts and Donations: Death announcements will often include details on where to send flowers and gifts — or, in lieu of flowers, details of which charitable organizations the deceased would have wanted their survivors to support.
· Honor the Deceased: In addition to the specific information a death announcement contains, the simple fact of an announcement being published tells the world that here is a person worth remembering.
· Begin the Mourning Process: In many ways, publicly acknowledging your loss initiates the communal grieving process, enabling friends, family, and acquaintances to start their journeys of mourning and healing together.
What Is The Difference Between A Death Announcement And An Obituary?
Though they are similar, there is a difference between death announcements and obituaries.
Death announcements act as a brief notice of someone's passing, are often written by funeral homes, and most importantly, are a means of providing key details about funeral arrangements, donations, and other information to those who may need to know.
Obituaries, on the other hand, are somewhat longer and more detailed accounts of a person's life, and are often written by family members or close friends. They can be thoughtful and creative, and are focused on honoring a person’s life. They serve to tell the world who someone was in life.
In other words, every obituary is also a death announcement — but not every death announcement is also an obituary. When you write an obituary (and even more so, when you write a eulogy), you are crafting a tribute, while a simple death announcement is more informational in nature.
How to Write a Death Announcement
If you need to write a death announcement or provide information to a service that will write one for you, don't worry. The process is straightforward, and you do not need to know how to write an obituary to be able to write an announcement. You should begin with the essentials:
· Name and Date: Include the full name of the deceased, along with their date of passing.
· Short Description: While not mandatory, a sentence including a brief description or mention of the person's major identity points can help make the announcement as clear and definite as possible. This could include their marital status, occupation, or any other significant details that help readers be certain they are reading about the correct person of that name.
· Death Location: Mention the town or city and state where the departed died. You may also mention whether the death occurred at home, in a hospital, or in another location, though this is optional. Again, this helps readers who may not have had contact with the deceased in a while ensure they have the correct person.
· Funeral or Memorial Information: Most importantly, if there will be a funeral or memorial service, include the date, time, and location of the service. This allows friends and family to gather and pay their respects.
· Donation Information: If the family has requested donations in lieu of flowers, include this in the death announcement. This allows readers to honor the deceased by contributing to a cause that was important to them.
Use short, simple, and informative sentences to get across the information above. Remember, this is not an obituary. You do not need to be in-depth or creative. This is a purely informational announcement.
Before publishing or sending out the death announcement, be sure to proofread and edit it for errors or typos. Pay special attention to ensuring that all information is accurate, as once a mistake is in print, you won’t be able to change it.
Finally, once the announcement is in print or online, it can be shared with friends, family, and community members through social media, newspapers, and websites. In many cases, the word will get out without any extra effort needed on your part.
Death Announcement Examples and Templates
Even when following the above guide, you may find it difficult to know where to begin or to know what such an announcement should look like. To assist you in learning how to share the sad news of death, we’ve prepared these obituary examples that may help guide you through the process. Please feel free to use them as death announcement template.
Announcing a Death to Family
“The Williams family are saddened to announce the passing of their mother and matriarch, Paula, who passed on May 7, 2023 at home. She was born December 11, 1956 in Rochester, New York, where she spent most of her life. Memorial services will be held on May 11 at 12:00pm at St. Francis Church, 657 Dobbins Road, Fairport, NY. It will be followed by a reception. Please send donations to the American Cancer Society in her honor.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death to the family:
"The [Family Name] family are saddened to announce the passing of their [Relationship], [Deceased Name], who passed on [Date of Passing] at [Place of Passing].
[Deceased Name] was born [Date of Birth] in [Birth City, State] where [he/she] spent most of [his/her] life.
Memorial services will be held on [Date of Memorial Service] at [Time of Memorial Service] at [Location of Memorial Service]. It will be followed by a reception.
Please send donations to the [Charity Name] in [his/her] honor."
Announcing a Death to Friends
“We are sad to announce the death of Ryan Delgado, my close friend who passed away Thursday, June 17 in Fort Worth, Texas. Ryan taught at Arlington Heights High School and was active in the Fort Worth Model Railroad Association. A memorial will be held on 11am on Sunday, June 21, at Hope Hill Church, 42 Adams Road, Fort Worth.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death to friends.
"We are sad to announce the death of [Deceased Name], my close friend who passed away on [Date of Passing] in [City, State].
[Deceased Name] [Brief description of profession or hobby, e.g., taught at Arlington Heights High School and was active in the Fort Worth Model Railroad Association].
A memorial will be held on [Date of Memorial Service] at [Time of Memorial Service] at [Location of Memorial Service]."
Social Media Death Announcement
“The Whitaker family announces with great sorrow the passing of their beloved uncle, Peter Baker, after a long illness. Born April 18, 1971, he was an avid supporter of the Beachwood Shakespeare in the Park series. His funeral will be held at St. Michael of the Mount Church on February 8 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Clean Ocean Action in Peter’s name. Share your favorite photos of Peter so that we can create a memorial video in his honor.”
Here is a template to use when announcing a death on social media:
"The [Family Name] family announces with great sorrow the passing of their beloved [Relationship], [Deceased Name], after a long illness.
Born [Date of Birth], [Deceased Name] was an avid supporter of the [Name of Organization/Event].
His funeral will be held on [Date of Funeral] at [Time of Funeral] at [Location of Funeral].
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to [Charity Name] in [Deceased Name]'s name.
Share your favorite photos of [Deceased Name] so that we can create a memorial video in his honor."
Coping with loss and grief is never easy, but hopefully this overview will have helped you get through this part of the process so you can return your focus to family, loved ones, and getting through this difficult period together.
"ObitWriter": The All-Purpose Interactive Obituary Writing Tool
If you want an even simpler way to create an obituary, it’s fast, easy, and free to use Legacy’s ObitWriter® tool. All you have to do is answer some basic questions about your loved one’s life, and in just a few minutes, ObitWriter will take your responses and turn them into a well-written draft of a thoughtful, respectful obituary.
Ready to get started?
Ready to get started?
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Ready to get started?
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
