What Should You Include in an Obituary? A Simple Guide for Families

Writing an obituary is never easy. During a time of grief, many families find themselves asking, “what should you include in an obituary?” While there is no single required format, understanding the key components can help you create a meaningful tribute that honors your loved one with dignity and clarity. Whether you’re preparing an obituary yourself or supporting a family member who is in charge of the task, this guide will walk you through the essentials.

How to Make an Obituary Program

Before knowing what to include in the obituary, a good place to start is answering “how to make an obituary program?” An obituary program is a printed keepsake that typically includes the obituary, order of service, photos, acknowledgments, and sometimes scripture or meaningful quotes.

How to Do it Yourself‍ ‍

If you choose to create the program yourself, here is a simple step-by-step approach.

Step 1 - Gather the Content: Collect the finalized obituary text, service details, photos, scripture or readings, and any special acknowledgments. ‍

Step 2 - Choose a Format: Decide whether you want a single-page handout, a folded program, a trifold layout, or a multi-page booklet. The amount of content will determine the format.

Step 3 - Select a Design Template: Use a design program such as Canva, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs to find a clean template. Keep fonts readable and avoid overcrowding the layout.

Step 4 - Insert Photos and Text Carefully: Use high-resolution images to prevent blurry prints. Double-check spelling, dates, and names for accuracy.

Step 5 - Print and Review: If printing at home, test one copy first to confirm alignment and color accuracy. For larger quantities, confirm that your printer settings match your chosen paper size and layout.

While this approach can work, formatting issues, paper selection, and print quality can quickly become overwhelming during an already emotional time.

Hire a Professional‍ ‍

Working with a professional design team allows families to focus on honoring their loved one while ensuring the final program is polished, accurate, and ready on time. A professional printer can assist with layout design, photo placement, paper selection, and proper formatting for clean, high-quality results. Families typically receive a digital proof for review before printing begins, which reduces errors and provides peace of mind. For those facing tight service timelines, professional printing also offers expedited turnaround options that are difficult to achieve with home printing.

If you’re searching for a company to make an obituary in Chicago, check out PostNet Shorewood. They have a professional design team and same day printing services.

What Should You Include in an Obituary?‍ ‍

Now that you know how to make an obituary, let’s cover what content to include.

The Basic Information to Include‍ ‍

Every obituary should begin with essential details: the full name of the person (including maiden name if applicable), age, city and state of residence, and date of passing.

For example:
Michael Anthony Johnson, age 72, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026.

This establishes identity and location clearly and respectfully.

A Brief Life Summary

After the introduction, include a short life summary that highlights meaningful milestones. This may include birthplace, education, career achievements, military service, faith involvement, volunteer work, or passions. When thinking about how to make an obituary meaningful, focus on what defined the person’s character. You do not need to list every accomplishment, just the moments and qualities that best reflect their legacy.

Family Members

Most obituaries include surviving family members such as a spouse, children, grandchildren, and siblings. It is also common to acknowledge loved ones who preceded them in death. This section allows community members to offer condolences appropriately and recognize close relationships.

Service Details

If funeral or memorial services are planned, clearly list the date, time, and location. You may also include information about visitation, repasts, or special requests such as charitable donations in lieu of flowers.

Personal Touches‍ ‍

Personal touches make an obituary feel heartfelt rather than formal. Many families include a favorite quote, a short message of gratitude, or a final sentence that captures the spirit of their loved one.

A common question is, “how long should an obituary be?” Most obituaries range between 200 and 500 words, depending on where they are published. Newspaper placements may have word limits, while online memorials often allow more flexibility.

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Final Thoughts: Printing the Obituary‍ ‍

Writing an obituary is both practical and deeply personal. With thoughtful preparation and supportive resources, you can create something that honors your loved one’s legacy with dignity and grace. Although we’ve covered what should you include in an obituary, remember that there is no perfect formula, only a tribute that reflects the life lived. Focus on meaningful milestones, family connections, and clear service information.

Once the obituary is written, families often need printed copies for the service. You can choose to print it yourself or use a professional printing service. A service may be most beneficial to alleviate added stress in your time of grief.

For families managing obituaries in Chicago and surrounding communities, PostNet Shorewood offers obituary printing services designed to support families with compassion and efficiency. Our team provides personalized design assistance, custom layout support, and professional printing options including quality paper selections and expedited turnaround. Contact us today at 815-230-2222.