Use a step-by-step obituary writing guide, copy-ready prompts, and a clear path into the obituary writer or funeral program builder.
Use a simple, family-reviewable structure: confirmed facts first, a short life summary, family names, service details, and a closing line.
By the Funeral Program Maker Editorial Team · Editorial standards
Write the full name, birth date, death date, and residence exactly as the family wants them printed. Keep uncertain dates or places out until they are confirmed.
Full name, dates, city, and one family-approved opening sentence.
Use two or three sentences about work, service, faith, hobbies, personality, or the places that shaped the person. Do not try to cover every detail.
What should people remember first about this life?
List immediate family in the order the family prefers. If there are sensitive relationships, use broader wording such as family, friends, and loved ones.
Who should be named, and who should be mentioned more generally?
Add the service date, time, venue, address, officiant, reception, or livestream note only when those details are ready for guests.
What should a guest know before attending?
End with a short line of thanks, donation information, or a simple remembrance. Keep it direct and easy to proofread.
What final line would the family be comfortable printing?
Open the obituary writer, paste the prompts you want to use, and review the final wording before placing it into a program.
A funeral program obituary is usually shorter than a newspaper obituary. Aim for a clear draft that fits the program page, then edit with the family before printing.
You can draft without exact dates, but do not print until the family confirms the final dates, names, and service details.
Include the names the family wants printed. When space or family circumstances are sensitive, use broader wording such as family, relatives, and close friends.