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.

No, Miss Manners, Excluding People from an Obit Isn’t Especially Polite

A   answered a reader who wondered whether she should include her beloved godchildren in her obituary, which she was drafting herself in order to make things easier on her family later. 

Who’s Living Longer: Musicians, Businessmen, or Politicians?

2020 was a year when death was frequently on our minds and in the news.

Legacy.com on the Mehdi Hasan Show

Legacy's senior writer, , was interviewed on The Mehdi Hasan Show, the Peacock streaming network's current-affairs news show, on December 30, 2020. In a special episode, "50 Lives," dedicated to remembering those who died of COVID-19, Crowther and Hasan discussed what it's like to be an obituary reporter during the pandemic.

Obituaries Reflect the Story of the Pandemic

Once, most of us grieved at funerals. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic restricting people from attending public events, people are increasingly mourning their losses — and measuring the epidemic’s toll — in the obituary pages.

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.

Why Do Celebrity Obituaries Cause Such Strong Feelings?

For every celebrity death that leaves millions of fans shocked and grieving — , , , — there's always someone who wants to argue against that grief.

How to Preserve Our Precious Memories Forever

Departed family and friends remain with us in the stories we tell and the memories we share.

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 NYT Is Publishing Great Black Americans' Obituaries After the Fact

The history of the U.S. is full of the accomplishments of great African Americans. But that hasn't always been a fact you'd find reflected in the obituary pages of U.S. newspapers. The obituary page—for instance, that of the New York Times, our country's "newspaper of record"—is where fame, talent, and ingenuity have always been summed up as a notable life comes to a close. That is, if that notable person was white.

The First Snapchat Obit Photo?

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

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.

The Man Who Threw His Own Funeral

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

The Most Characteristic Euphemism for "Died" in Each State

In collaboration with Mental Floss: a state-by-state breakdown of euphemism trends in 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.

PostSecret Talks Obituaries

What secrets are we keeping today that we'll be comfortable with sharing in obituaries 100 years from now?