How to Write a Death Notice: Examples and Wording (2026)

Most funeral homes ask for a death notice within 24 to 48 hours of someone dying. That's a short window when you're also handling arrangements, notifying family, and barely sleeping — and most people have never written one before.

A death notice is a short, factual announcement — usually 50 to 100 words — that states the person's name, when they died, who they're survived by, and where and when the service will be held. It's meant to inform, not to memorialize. Unlike an obituary, it isn't a tribute to their life. It's information.

Death Notice vs. Obituary: What's the Difference

People use these terms interchangeably, but they're actually different things.

A death notice is brief and transactional. It announces the basics: someone died, here are the details, here's when and where the service is. Newspapers often charge by the word for death notices, which is why they stay short.

An obituary is a longer tribute — typically 300 to 800 words — that tells the person's story: their career, their family, their personality, what they cared about. Many families write both. The death notice runs quickly to get information out; the full obituary goes somewhere people can read it at their own pace.

If you're wondering which one you need right now, it's almost certainly the death notice. Funeral directors need it within the first day or two to meet newspaper deadlines.

What to Include in a Death Notice

Most death notices contain the same core information. You don't need much.

• Full name (including maiden name if applicable)
• Date of death (and age, if the family wishes to share it)
• City of residence or where they passed away
• Surviving family members by relationship — spouse, children, grandchildren (you don't need every name if the list is long)
• Service details — date, time, and location of the funeral or memorial service
• Any requests — donations in lieu of flowers, or whether the service is private

Some families add a short descriptive phrase: "beloved mother of three" or "retired schoolteacher and longtime resident of Burlington." That's optional, but it gives the notice a warmer tone without turning it into an obituary.

Death Notice Wording Examples

Here are three examples you can adapt directly.

Standard death notice:

"Margaret Helen Ostrowski, 79, of Harrisburg, PA, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026. Beloved wife of Raymond Ostrowski, devoted mother of Karen (Michael) Davis and James Ostrowski, and loving grandmother of four. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony's Church, Harrisburg, followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association."

Brief, names only:

"David Thomas Reyes, 64, of Tucson, AZ, died June 8, 2026. Survived by his wife, Luisa, his children Marcus and Elena, and two grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date."

Private service:

"Rose Ann Petti, 88, passed away on June 12, 2026, surrounded by her family. Services will be private. Those who wish to share a memory are invited to visit her memorial page online."

That last format is useful when the family doesn't want an influx of attendees. You can direct people to an online memorial page where they can leave condolences without attending in person. QuickMemorial lets you set up a page in a few minutes and share the link anywhere — including a death notice.

Where to Submit a Death Notice

Local newspapers. Most print papers still publish death notices, usually in the classifieds or a dedicated section. Call the editorial or classified desk for submission instructions. Many have online forms now. Expect to pay per word or per line. Deadlines are typically the day before publication.

Funeral home website. Funeral homes usually post a death notice or brief write-up as part of their service. Ask your funeral director if this is included — most of the time it is.

Legacy.com is the largest online death notice directory in the US. Many local papers syndicate their notices to Legacy automatically, so submitting to your newspaper may cover both.

If you're not sure which paper the person's community reads, search their city name plus "obituaries" — you'll find the right outlet quickly. For a full checklist of everything else that needs to happen in the first few days, the guide on who to notify when someone dies covers it step by step.

How to Write One When You're Exhausted

Death notices need to get done fast, which means writing them while you're still in shock. A few things that help.

Start with a template. Don't stare at a blank page. Use the examples above as a skeleton. You're filling in facts, not composing prose.

Call the funeral home first. Most funeral directors have helped write hundreds of these. Tell them what information you have and ask if they have a standard format. They often do.

Get one person to proofread it. It's easy to miss a name, reverse a date, or leave out a surviving sibling when you're exhausted. One extra set of eyes before you submit can save a painful public correction.

Don't wait for everyone's input. Death notices have a 24-to-48-hour window before newspaper deadlines close. Get the basic facts right, submit it, and save the fuller tribute for the obituary later.

The death notice and the obituary serve different purposes. The notice gets information to people who need it right away. The obituary does the heavier work of honoring a life. You can write them on different timelines, in different places, for different audiences. See the full death announcement wording guide if you're also drafting a message for family or social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a death notice be?

Most death notices are 50 to 150 words. Short enough to scan, long enough to include service details and surviving family members. Newspapers often charge by the word, which naturally keeps them concise.

Is a death notice the same as an obituary?

No. A death notice is a brief announcement covering the name, date, and service information — usually just a few sentences. An obituary is a longer tribute that tells the person's story and celebrates their life. Many families publish both.

How quickly does a death notice need to be submitted?

Most newspapers have a deadline of 24 to 48 hours before the publication date. If the service is within a few days of the death, you'll need to move quickly. Check the paper's website or call their classified desk for exact deadlines.

Who typically writes a death notice?

Often the funeral director handles the submission, with details provided by the family. But families can write and submit their own directly. Most newspapers accept submissions through an online form.

Do I need to include the cause of death?

No. The cause of death is optional, and many families leave it out entirely. You can include a brief phrase like "after a brief illness" or "suddenly" if you choose, but there's no obligation to explain how someone died in a death notice.

Whoever you're doing this for, getting the details right matters — and you're doing that by taking the time to do it carefully, even when that's the last thing you have energy for.