How to Write an Obituary in the UK: A Thoughtful Guide

How to Write an Obituary in the UK

Writing an obituary for someone you love is one of those tasks that feels impossibly heavy. You are trying to capture an entire life in a few hundred words, often while still in shock. This guide walks you through the process gently, step by step.

What Is an Obituary?

An obituary is a written notice that announces someone's death and celebrates their life. It typically appears in a newspaper or online, and includes details about who they were, what mattered to them, and when the funeral will take place.

It is different from a death notice, which is a short factual listing (name, age, date of death), and different from a eulogy, which is a spoken tribute delivered at the funeral.

What to Include in an Obituary

There is no rigid formula, but most UK obituaries follow a similar structure:

1. The Announcement

Start with the person's full name, their age, and when and where they died. Many UK obituaries open with a phrase like "passed away peacefully" or "died suddenly." You do not need to include the cause of death. That is entirely your choice.

2. A Snapshot of Their Life

This is the heart of the obituary. Think about what made them who they were:

• Where they grew up and went to school
• Their career or profession
• Hobbies, passions, and interests
• Community involvement or volunteer work
• Personality traits that people will recognise

You do not need to cover everything. Focus on what feels most true to who they were.

3. Family and Relationships

List surviving family members: spouse or partner, children, grandchildren, siblings. It is also common to mention family members who predeceased them, using phrases like "reunited with" or "predeceased by."

4. Funeral or Memorial Details

Include the date, time, and location of the funeral or memorial service. If you would like mourners to wear something specific (bright colours, for example) or to make charitable donations in lieu of flowers, mention it here.

5. A Personal Touch

Many obituaries close with a short poem, a favourite saying, or a simple line like "forever in our hearts." Choose something that feels right for the person.

How Long Should an Obituary Be?

For a local newspaper, aim for 100 to 300 words. Newspapers charge by the word or by the line, so brevity matters for cost. Online obituaries can be longer if you want to include more detail.

Where to Publish an Obituary in the UK

Option	Cost	Notes
Local newspaper	Around £50 to £300	Most common choice; charged by word count
National newspaper	£300 and upwards	The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian
Funeral Notices websites	Free to low cost	funeral-notices.co.uk is widely used
Social media	Free	Facebook memorial posts reach a wide audience
Funeral director's website	Usually free	Many funeral directors publish notices for their clients

Your funeral director can help you place the notice in the right publications. They do this regularly and can advise on wording and pricing.

Tips for Writing a Good Obituary

Be honest. You do not need to pretend someone was perfect. A genuine, warm tribute resonates far more than a list of achievements.

Read it aloud. Does it sound like the person? Would they recognise themselves in it? Would it make someone who knew them smile or nod?

Ask for help. Other family members or close friends may remember details you have forgotten, or they may want to contribute a line or two.

Take your time if you can. Some newspapers allow you to submit within a few days of the funeral. There is no rule that says the obituary must appear before the service.

Keep a copy. Print or save a copy of the published obituary. It becomes part of the family record.

What If You Are Struggling?

Writing about someone you have just lost is genuinely difficult. If the words will not come, that is completely normal. Your funeral director can help draft the obituary based on details you share with them. Some families ask a close friend to write it instead.

There is no wrong way to honour someone's life. Whether the obituary is two sentences or two pages, what matters is that it comes from the heart.

How GetPassage Can Help

When you are managing everything after a bereavement, keeping track of tasks like writing and placing an obituary can feel overwhelming. GetPassage helps you organise and track every task in one place, so nothing gets missed during an already difficult time.