Question 1

What should an obituary include?

Accepted Answer

At minimum: full name, age, city, and date of death; a brief life story; a list of survivors; and service information if applicable. Beyond that, it's entirely a matter of what the family wants to share.

Question 2

How long should an obituary be?

Accepted Answer

There's no fixed rule. Short newspaper notices run 50-150 words; a full life story published online often runs 300-800 words. Let the content, not a word count, decide — say what needs saying, then stop.

Question 3

Can I write my own obituary in advance?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and many people do, particularly after a serious diagnosis or simply as part of broader end-of-life planning. A pre-written obituary can be updated by family later with final details like date of death and service information.

Question 4

How do I submit an obituary to a newspaper?

Accepted Answer

Contact the paper's advertising or obituary desk directly — most list submission instructions and pricing on their website. Confirm word count limits, photo requirements, and same-day deadlines before submitting; major papers in particular enforce strict cutoffs.

Question 5

What is the cost to publish an obituary?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary widely by market and length — commonly $85 to $780 or more for print, driven by per-line and photo fees, with major metro papers at the high end. Online-only publication is typically far cheaper or free.

Question 6

Should I mention cremation or funeral details in the obituary?

Accepted Answer

It's optional. Many families include service details (date, time, location) directly in the obituary; others keep the obituary focused on the life story and share logistics separately with close family and friends.

Question 7

What if I don't want a public obituary?

Accepted Answer

That's entirely your choice. Some families choose a private notice shared only with close family and friends, or skip a formal obituary altogether in favor of a private memorial gathering. There's no requirement to publish anything publicly.

Question 8

Can I generate an obituary automatically?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Omuna's Obituary Writer asks a series of simple questions about the person's life and generates a complete first draft you can edit and finalize, so you're never starting from a truly blank page.

Obituary Examples: 26 Templates You Can Use Today