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.

In obituaries, Juneteenth memories are held as precious

Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery in America, has long been cherished by many families in obituaries on Legacy.com. Today we honor some of the remarkable lives that have been remembered all around the country in tributes citing Juneteenth as a source of precious memories and community togetherness.

In Mom's Memory, Families Write Beautiful Tributes

Saying goodbye to one's mother is one of the hardest things many of us ever go through. One thing families often find helps is telling Mom's story: putting her life into words, to be preserved and cherished for the ages.

Five People Whose Obituaries Tell Stories of Making Black History

There are so many people of a certain age who are passing away right now at the end of a long life, having lived through the 20th century, who have made Black history in their local communities.

These True-Life Love Stories Are the Real Deal

The stories of how we met our sweethearts are some of our favorites to tell. Whether it’s funny or wacky or poignant, a tale that ends after many decades of marriage or one that was cut short all too soon, almost everyone likes to tell about the seed that was planted the day they met the one they love.

February brings World Cancer Day - and memories

World Cancer Day is February 4. Cancer takes more than half a million lives every year, and it affects millions more.

Why Publish an Obituary in the Local News? Here Are 5 Good Reasons

It’s more than just someone’s death notice—it’s also their life story, preserved to make sure the world remembers them.

Funny Obituaries

In a section of the news that usually inspires tears, a few unique souls would rather make us laugh.

The Best Obituaries of 2019

These unforgettable tributes share the amazing lives of everyday people.

Obituary for AJ Freund: "His giggle and laugh will never be forgotten"

The family of AJ Freund, the 5-year-old Illinois boy whose death made headlines in April, published a loving obituary for him in the Northwest Herald this week.

Lives Told Well: The Best Obituaries

The best obituaries find the extraordinary in the lives of ordinary people.

Black History, and All History, Is Really About Regular People

Never mind the celebrities — every real historical moment ultimately comes down to people and their families.

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

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

Amazing Adoption Stories Shared in Obituaries

There are many ways to make a family — and many ways to tell the story of a life.

The First Snapchat Obit Photo?

Grandmother remembered with loving obituary and goofy photo straight from Snapchat.

Why Did This Obituary Get Us Talking about Opioid Addiction?

How a well-written obituary and a police chief's criticism have sparked a national conversation about opioid addiction.

This Man's Obituary Raises a Lot of Surprising Questions

How should those who knew Rick Stein remember him?

This Man’s Obituary Respects His Wife As Much As He Did

We're cheering Toledo man Freeman Hudson after reading his extraordinary obituary.

The New York Times Is Retroactively Publishing Great Women's Obituaries

The "Overlooked" series seeks to begin correcting historical biases in reporting notable lives and deaths.

Year's Best Obituary Writing: The 2017 Grimmy Awards

Obit writers from around the globe gathered at Legacy this October.

Fourth of July Memories

The Fourth means so much to many Americans that it ends up in their obituaries.

Best Dad Ever

It’s a simple phrase, three short words, yet it carries incredible, almost unthinkable power. Consider how formidable each of those words is on its own. “Best”—that means none is better, not a single one. “Dad”—well, every person has a father who helped give them life. “Ever”—that’s a time frame that stretches all the way back through eternity.

The Man Who Threw His Own Funeral

First, he published a "nobituary" while he was still around to see it.

True Love to the End

It’s often in the obituaries where an everyday couple’s great romance is finally told.

'My name is Sonia Todd...'

When 38-year-old mother Sonia Todd was dying of cancer, she penned her own poignant obituary. Four years after her death, her words still resonate.

The Story Behind the Year's Funniest Obituary

When the recently went viral, we wanted to learn more about the story behind the words. We talked to Ziegler's family members and found out how they worked together to create the perfect tribute to their father.

Kevin McGroarty Goes Out on a Laugh

When Kevin McGroarty moved into section 7N at Mount Olivet Cemetery, his obituary asked friends to please make note of his new address.

The Two Biggest Regrets at the End of Life

We looked at hundreds of obituaries containing the keywords "biggest regret." Most peoples' regrets fell into two major categories.

In Obituaries, Dr. Seuss Quotes Reflect Life's Magic

Some love Dr. Seuss so much that they've added his quotes to an unexpected place: obituaries.

These Obituaries Offer a Glimpse Into a Concentration Camp

In Holocaust survivors' obituaries, horrific places like Treblinka are mentioned alongside recollections of happy marriages and personal achievements.

Finding the Greatest Love Stories

Beautiful love stories live on in millions of Legacy obituaries.

Getting the Last Word on Politics (in Your Obituary)

Voters cherish the right to voice approval of (or displeasure at) at elected officials' behavior. Sometimes, personal politics even pop up in obituaries. Below are some of the funniest times when people used obituaries as a last chance to make their political views heard.

The Seven Most Touching Obituaries of 2015

Honoring seven souls who left their loved ones with a smile.

Killed by an Uppercut from Batman

An obituary made national news thanks to its fantastical claim about the cause of death of 31-year-old Stephen Merrill.

Aaron Purmort's Secret Identity

Today, a hero will be interred in Minneapolis. Father, husband and life of the party, Aaron Joseph Purmort was many things to many people. And if his obituary is to be believed, he was also superhero.

Eccentric Bar Owner Gave Authors a Home

At O'Rourke's, Will Kilkeary played host to literati like Roger Ebert, Tom Wolfe, and Studs Terkel.

Life, Love, and Adventure With Cynthia Castle

Cynthia Castle lived for love and adventure.

Addiction, Suicide and Obituaries

Families who've lost loved ones to addiction or suicide are speaking out in their obituaries.

A Man and His Dog

On National Dog Day, we celebrate a special relationship between an advocate for people with disabilities and the service dog who gave him help and love.

The Extraordinary Dr. Tea

What’s not to love about a doctor whose favorite medicine is levity?

XOXO, Signed with Love

While more and more people are penning their own obituaries these days, it’s difficult to imagine doing it on, well, deadline.

A Letter of Departure

This recent self-written obituary reads more like a thank-you note than a final farewell.

Forever Love

Lisa L. Montalvo's obituary reads like a love note from her family to their beloved wife, mother and daughter.

The Year's Best Obituary Writing

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

She Brought Them Together

A phenomenon we often notice while reading Guest Books here at Legacy.com is the way a death can bring a family together.

Obits Highlight Presidential Picks

A recent trend in the obituary pages has prompted us to create our very own, extremely unscientific, presidential poll.

True Confessions

Val Patterson’s self-written obituary includes a paragraph of shocking (and, in some cases, shockingly funny) confessions.

A Trust Fund of Love

As Laura Jean Gautney Black fought breast cancer, she wrote a series of letters to her children.

Don't Hold Back (She Never Did)

Kat Carr was a "crazy woman" – but don't take our word for it. Her obituary says so.