How to Write an Obituary for a Wife - 2 Examples

4/16/2024

Edited and fact-checked by

Legacy Editorial Staff

05/29/2024

Losing a wife is profoundly difficult, and writing her obituary can seem overwhelming. This guide is here to help you through the process. We provide practical tips and a step-by-step approach to honor her memory and celebrate her life.

Losing a wife is profoundly difficult, and writing her obituary can seem overwhelming. This guide is here to help you through the process. We provide practical tips and a step-by-step approach to honor her memory and celebrate her life.

Losing a wife is profoundly difficult, and writing her obituary can seem overwhelming. This guide is here to help you through the process. We provide practical tips and a step-by-step approach to honor her memory and celebrate her life.

Ready to get started?

Ready to get started?

Ready to get started?

Our ObitWriter® can help you create an obituary for your loving wife in minutes.

Our ObitWriter® can help you create an obituary for your loving wife in minutes.

Our ObitWriter® can help you create an obituary for your loving wife in minutes.

Creating an Online Obituary for your Wife

In today's digital age, an online obituary offers a unique and lasting way to honor your wife's memory. Here are a few reasons why creating an online obituary is so important:

  • A Permanent Record: Unlike social media posts that can disappear or become difficult to locate over time, an online obituary provides a permanent and easily accessible place where friends, family, and even those who never met her can learn about her life and the love story you shared.

  • Sharing Made Easy: Online obituaries can be easily shared across social media platforms, allowing you to reach a wider audience and ensure her memory is shared with everyone who knew and loved her.

  • A Space for Memories: Many online obituary platforms, like Legacy.com, offer guestbooks where friends and family can leave memories and photos. This creates a virtual space where loved ones can come together to celebrate her life and keep her memory alive for generations to come.


What Should be Included in a Wife's Obituary

Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to gather information and reflect on your wife's life. Here's a helpful checklist:

  • Essential Details: Obituaries typically start with the basics – your wife's full name, date of birth and passing, and place of residence.

  • A Life in Chapters: Go beyond the dates. Think about her childhood, education, and career path. Did she have any notable achievements or awards?

  • Beyond the Professional: What were her passions and hobbies? Was she involved in any volunteer work or community activities?

  • A Love Story for the Ages: Reflect on your relationship. How did you meet? What made your love unique? Use this opportunity to be vulnerable and share your love story to be immortalized.

  • Memories Matter: Talk to family and friends. Anecdotes and short tributes can paint a vivid picture of her personality.


How to Structure Your Wife's Obituary

With the information gathered, it's time to structure the obituary. Here's a recommended framework:

  • Headline and Subheading: Craft a clear headline mentioning your wife's name and your relationship (e.g., "[Wife's Name], Beloved Wife and Soulmate").

  • A Captivating Introduction: Briefly summarize your wife's life, highlighting a defining characteristic or a special memory you shared.

  • Biographical Information: Present the essential details you gathered earlier.

  • A Life Well-Lived: Dedicate sections to her career, hobbies, achievements, and any community involvement.

  • A Love Story Remembered: Share the story of your relationship, highlighting the qualities you cherished most about her and the joy she brought to your life. Consider incorporating a short anecdote or quote that exemplifies your love.

  • Final Arrangements (Optional): If applicable, include details about funeral services or memorial gatherings.

Related: Obituary Template

It's always helpful during this emotional time to have someone else proofread and to make sure that important information like the funeral arrangements, dates or information about charitable donations are accurate.

By following this guide and incorporating your love and memories, you can create a lasting tribute not just for yourself, but all who cared about her.


2 Examples of Inspiring Obituaries for a Wife


Obituary Example for a Brilliant Academic Mother and Wife

A brilliant academic and mother
“She broke many glass ceilings as one of the first women to chair a department in the USC School of Dentistry… Though Suzan was a brilliant academic, she felt that motherhood was her true calling. After the birth of Sarra, Suzan left USC to spend more time with her family. She moved with Ernest to Moraga, California and began a new career as a professor of dental hygiene… Suzan often brought Sarra along to her classes… inspiring a love of education in her daughter.”


Obituary Example for a Caring Mother and Widow

Stay-at-home mom and young widow
“She married Bill during the war, and began her career as a stay-at-home mom, raising 3 children. A long-time member of Holy Name of Jesus parish, she actively volunteered in activities to support the school and to be involved in her children's education. She spent many years working with their bingo program. A young widow, it was working at bingo that she met fellow widower Chester… whom she spent over 35 wonderful years with.”

Related: 18 Examples of How to Write an Obituary for Mother


Creating an Online Obituary for your Wife

In today's digital age, an online obituary offers a unique and lasting way to honor your wife's memory. Here are a few reasons why creating an online obituary is so important:

  • A Permanent Record: Unlike social media posts that can disappear or become difficult to locate over time, an online obituary provides a permanent and easily accessible place where friends, family, and even those who never met her can learn about her life and the love story you shared.

  • Sharing Made Easy: Online obituaries can be easily shared across social media platforms, allowing you to reach a wider audience and ensure her memory is shared with everyone who knew and loved her.

  • A Space for Memories: Many online obituary platforms, like Legacy.com, offer guestbooks where friends and family can leave memories and photos. This creates a virtual space where loved ones can come together to celebrate her life and keep her memory alive for generations to come.


What Should be Included in a Wife's Obituary

Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to gather information and reflect on your wife's life. Here's a helpful checklist:

  • Essential Details: Obituaries typically start with the basics – your wife's full name, date of birth and passing, and place of residence.

  • A Life in Chapters: Go beyond the dates. Think about her childhood, education, and career path. Did she have any notable achievements or awards?

  • Beyond the Professional: What were her passions and hobbies? Was she involved in any volunteer work or community activities?

  • A Love Story for the Ages: Reflect on your relationship. How did you meet? What made your love unique? Use this opportunity to be vulnerable and share your love story to be immortalized.

  • Memories Matter: Talk to family and friends. Anecdotes and short tributes can paint a vivid picture of her personality.


How to Structure Your Wife's Obituary

With the information gathered, it's time to structure the obituary. Here's a recommended framework:

  • Headline and Subheading: Craft a clear headline mentioning your wife's name and your relationship (e.g., "[Wife's Name], Beloved Wife and Soulmate").

  • A Captivating Introduction: Briefly summarize your wife's life, highlighting a defining characteristic or a special memory you shared.

  • Biographical Information: Present the essential details you gathered earlier.

  • A Life Well-Lived: Dedicate sections to her career, hobbies, achievements, and any community involvement.

  • A Love Story Remembered: Share the story of your relationship, highlighting the qualities you cherished most about her and the joy she brought to your life. Consider incorporating a short anecdote or quote that exemplifies your love.

  • Final Arrangements (Optional): If applicable, include details about funeral services or memorial gatherings.

Related: Obituary Template

It's always helpful during this emotional time to have someone else proofread and to make sure that important information like the funeral arrangements, dates or information about charitable donations are accurate.

By following this guide and incorporating your love and memories, you can create a lasting tribute not just for yourself, but all who cared about her.


2 Examples of Inspiring Obituaries for a Wife


Obituary Example for a Brilliant Academic Mother and Wife

A brilliant academic and mother
“She broke many glass ceilings as one of the first women to chair a department in the USC School of Dentistry… Though Suzan was a brilliant academic, she felt that motherhood was her true calling. After the birth of Sarra, Suzan left USC to spend more time with her family. She moved with Ernest to Moraga, California and began a new career as a professor of dental hygiene… Suzan often brought Sarra along to her classes… inspiring a love of education in her daughter.”


Obituary Example for a Caring Mother and Widow

Stay-at-home mom and young widow
“She married Bill during the war, and began her career as a stay-at-home mom, raising 3 children. A long-time member of Holy Name of Jesus parish, she actively volunteered in activities to support the school and to be involved in her children's education. She spent many years working with their bingo program. A young widow, it was working at bingo that she met fellow widower Chester… whom she spent over 35 wonderful years with.”

Related: 18 Examples of How to Write an Obituary for Mother


Creating an Online Obituary for your Wife

In today's digital age, an online obituary offers a unique and lasting way to honor your wife's memory. Here are a few reasons why creating an online obituary is so important:

  • A Permanent Record: Unlike social media posts that can disappear or become difficult to locate over time, an online obituary provides a permanent and easily accessible place where friends, family, and even those who never met her can learn about her life and the love story you shared.

  • Sharing Made Easy: Online obituaries can be easily shared across social media platforms, allowing you to reach a wider audience and ensure her memory is shared with everyone who knew and loved her.

  • A Space for Memories: Many online obituary platforms, like Legacy.com, offer guestbooks where friends and family can leave memories and photos. This creates a virtual space where loved ones can come together to celebrate her life and keep her memory alive for generations to come.


What Should be Included in a Wife's Obituary

Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to gather information and reflect on your wife's life. Here's a helpful checklist:

  • Essential Details: Obituaries typically start with the basics – your wife's full name, date of birth and passing, and place of residence.

  • A Life in Chapters: Go beyond the dates. Think about her childhood, education, and career path. Did she have any notable achievements or awards?

  • Beyond the Professional: What were her passions and hobbies? Was she involved in any volunteer work or community activities?

  • A Love Story for the Ages: Reflect on your relationship. How did you meet? What made your love unique? Use this opportunity to be vulnerable and share your love story to be immortalized.

  • Memories Matter: Talk to family and friends. Anecdotes and short tributes can paint a vivid picture of her personality.


How to Structure Your Wife's Obituary

With the information gathered, it's time to structure the obituary. Here's a recommended framework:

  • Headline and Subheading: Craft a clear headline mentioning your wife's name and your relationship (e.g., "[Wife's Name], Beloved Wife and Soulmate").

  • A Captivating Introduction: Briefly summarize your wife's life, highlighting a defining characteristic or a special memory you shared.

  • Biographical Information: Present the essential details you gathered earlier.

  • A Life Well-Lived: Dedicate sections to her career, hobbies, achievements, and any community involvement.

  • A Love Story Remembered: Share the story of your relationship, highlighting the qualities you cherished most about her and the joy she brought to your life. Consider incorporating a short anecdote or quote that exemplifies your love.

  • Final Arrangements (Optional): If applicable, include details about funeral services or memorial gatherings.

Related: Obituary Template

It's always helpful during this emotional time to have someone else proofread and to make sure that important information like the funeral arrangements, dates or information about charitable donations are accurate.

By following this guide and incorporating your love and memories, you can create a lasting tribute not just for yourself, but all who cared about her.


2 Examples of Inspiring Obituaries for a Wife


Obituary Example for a Brilliant Academic Mother and Wife

A brilliant academic and mother
“She broke many glass ceilings as one of the first women to chair a department in the USC School of Dentistry… Though Suzan was a brilliant academic, she felt that motherhood was her true calling. After the birth of Sarra, Suzan left USC to spend more time with her family. She moved with Ernest to Moraga, California and began a new career as a professor of dental hygiene… Suzan often brought Sarra along to her classes… inspiring a love of education in her daughter.”


Obituary Example for a Caring Mother and Widow

Stay-at-home mom and young widow
“She married Bill during the war, and began her career as a stay-at-home mom, raising 3 children. A long-time member of Holy Name of Jesus parish, she actively volunteered in activities to support the school and to be involved in her children's education. She spent many years working with their bingo program. A young widow, it was working at bingo that she met fellow widower Chester… whom she spent over 35 wonderful years with.”

Related: 18 Examples of How to Write an Obituary for Mother


"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.

Ready to get started?

Our ObitWriter® can help you create an obituary for your loving wife in minutes.

Our ObitWriter® can help you create an obituary for your loving wife in minutes.