Life Stories

Guide to Writing an Obituary

An obituary is a published notice of death, typically seen in a newspaper, that includes a short biography of the life of someone who recently died.

Stories of D-Day Veterans We Said Goodbye to This Year

Seventy-five years after the D-Day invasion of World War II, families and nations are honoring the service members who fought in one of the war's most famous battles.

R.I.P. to the 'What's Your Story?' Dad

Steve Dishman: a life well-lived + a story well-told = endless inspiration

They Carried the Olympic Torch — Now We Say Goodbye

These Olympic torch bearers died recently — but they lived remarkable lives.

The First Brave Woman Who Alleged ‘Sexual Harassment’

Before 1975, there was no such thing as “sexual harassment.” And then, on a university campus in upstate New York, one woman had had enough.

Puerto Rican Pride: Celebrating Heritage in the Obits

An obituary is a timeline, a record of where a person has been, what they've done, and who they are related to. It can be a simple list or a highlight reel of sorts, featuring the greatest jokes, sayings, and memories from a loved one's life. The most memorable obituaries paint brilliantly-colored portraits of life – and not just that one person's life, either. Because obituaries, at their heart, are about communities. An obituary tells someone's life story in a particular way: through their connections to family, friends, church, school, military unit, and hometown.

Story of a Moment: Mother's Day Photo Contest

Some pictures are worth more than a thousand words — when they capture a favorite memory or reflect a lifetime of love at a single glance.

An Accomplished Life

L. Rodger Currie was one of the youngest Marine Corps dive bomber pilots in World War II and became one of the oldest recipients of the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.

Survival of the Species

Love, family and experience are focal points for most people who are asked about the meaning of life, but male interviewees also state quite simply and elegantly that a big part of the meaning of life is to procreate.

Wilbur Eggleston and Racial Integration in N.C.

The obituary for in the Ashland Citizen-Times offers a historic look at racial integration in North Carolina and Eggleston’s role in its progress.

Hard Lessons

Life is just like an old-time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.

Why Cemeteries Are Important

Have you been to a cemetery lately? More and more people are visiting these fascinating places, and not just to visit their lost loved ones' graves.

A Doctor and a Patriot

The obituary for in the Kansas City Star told scant details of his remarkable life compared to the autobiography he wrote in 1996.

The Remarkable Reta Banks

What a movie Reta Banks' life would make.

The Year's Best Obituary Writing

The Society of Professional Obituary Writers recently awarded this year's Grimmies for the best obituary writing...

Mother of the Conservation Movement

On Earth Day, we remember a woman who was “one of the elders” of the environmentalist movement.

The Legend of Grey Owl

The life and legend of the Canadian wildlife advocate known as Grey Owl.

Two Tasty Legacies

Food is becoming a frequently mentioned hobby or passion in today’s obituaries.

Breast Cancer Survivor Reached Out

American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery volunteer Marlene Parent gave lots of hugs, whether you wanted them or not.

Neil Armstrong and NASA: One Giant Leap

First man on the moon Neil Armstrong routinely credited the thousands of scientists, technicians, and others who made his historic flight possible.

Never Got to Go for Gold

Not every Olympic-caliber athlete makes it to the Olympics. For some, injury intervenes and shuts down their chance to compete. For others, it may be financial hardship that prevents them from going to the Olympic Games. But for many athletes, it isn't their bodies or personal circumstances that get in the way — it's politics.

Following Her Dream

Seventy years ago, women majoring in chemistry at Michigan State were told to seek jobs as secretaries or librarians. Marjorie Lesher Hunt did no such thing.

One Stubborn Elephant

Michael Blanchard "wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctors' orders and raising hell for more than six decades..."

Mom and Pop Shops

For National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, we're celebrating folks who ran family businesses.

Real-Life Mother Goose

Professional storyteller Lynn "MotherGoose" Shenefield 'waddled' around Florida for nearly 25 years telling stories, singing songs, and imparting gentle life lessons.

Surviving the Holocaust

Anna Maxell Levin-Ware survived the Holocaust and lived to be almost 90, making the world a more beautiful place while she was here.

Richard Olney, ALS Researcher and Patient

Dr. Richard Olney didn't have ALS when he began searching for a cure for the disease.

Scrabble Points

Will you be remembered for your love of triple word scores?

Lovable Curmudgeons

Andy Rooney and other curmudgeons people couldn't help but love.

Visionary Inventors

Not every inventor or innovator is as famous as Steve Jobs.

He Fixed Hearts

Wilson Greatbatch invented the implantable cardiac pacemaker, keeping millions of hearts beating in rhythm.

They Made a Joyful Noise

We've lost many gospel singers in recent weeks. The renowned , who famously sang with James Cleveland’s Gospel Chimes and Bill Gaither’s Homecoming crew, died Sept. 26, 2011 at age 73.

The Mad Scientist

From young “mad scientist” to NASA scientist, Newell Sanders always had lofty aspirations.

Breast Cancer Doc

Dr. Raza Ali Dilawari, who worked to fight breast cancer, was considered the premier surgical oncologist in the mid-South.

Missionary in Vietnam

Walter Routh Jr. knew from the age of 14 that he would be a missionary, a calling that took him into war-ravaged Vietnam during the height of conflict.

Breast Cancer Activist

After her breast cancer diagnosis, Lydia J. Cosumano made awareness, detection, and finding a cure her focus.

House For Sale!

“Roy died. House for sale! I have always wanted to say that in my obituary!” That’s how Roy Edward Oaklund, 94, began his own obituary in the Idaho Press Tribune.

A Teacher's Tools

Gloria Houghton invented fun and challenging learning devices to teach her students about literature, drama and art.

Driving the Bus

These six dedicated school bus drivers helped children get home safely.

Lucky Stock Car Racer

As a stock car driver and truck driver, the woman called “Lucky” always figured that she really was just that.

The Help

The hit movie The Help has us all thinking about the generations of women who have cared for other people’s homes and children. Today we spotlight a few domestic workers who have passed away in recent months.

Commitment to Social Justice

Jane Robinson Gillespie filled her 90 years with community service, guided by her unwavering commitment to peacemaking and social justice.

Love Story

Garnet Sveda’s husband wrote her obituary, a beautiful and loving tribute that begins, “My girlfriend left me!”

Lots of trophies, lots of broken bones

After Gary Nixon was conked in the head by a teammate’s swinging bat while playing baseball, he decided he’d better find a safer sport. So he switched to drag racing.

Civil Rights Lawyer

Bernard Segal spent 39 years at Golden Gate University teaching future lawyers the litigation skills he learned defending civil rights and antiwar protesters.

September 11 First Responders

Paramedics, firefighters and police were among the first to respond to the emergency situation created by terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Still others, including Red Cross volunteers, did what they could to help in the aftermath.

9/11 Epiphany

Barrett Lawrimore Jr. experienced an epiphany soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Remembering Labor Leaders

On Labor Day, we spotlight a few of the many Americans who have served their colleagues as part of labor unions.

The Funny Man

Las Vegas Sun columnist John Katsilometes thought of his late grandfather as \ the Funny Man, comparing him to mustachioed characters like Super Mario.