How to Write an Obituary (53 Questions) (2024)

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• Tags: Questions to Ask, Writing Prompts

How to write an obituary.

I have interviewed hundreds of people about the period when a family member has passed away. Based on the answers I received in those interviews, I have put together a list of writing prompts and questions to ask when writing an obituary.

Obituary Writing Prompts and Questions to Ask People

The “Obituary” writing prompts and questions to ask people are part of the 28 articles, 108 category series entitled “7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives.” The prompts and questions are provided to help you look at the death of an individual from as many angles as possible when writing an obituary.

Find 52 questions and prompts. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write the obituary about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover various aspects and memories about the person, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Approach each topic from the point of view of the person/lives you are writing about. You don’t have to ask every question. Review the questions and determine which ones are most appropriate to ask. I would encourage you to modify and add questions as you desire.

I have prepared a couple of other resources that will provide value in interviewing for and writing individual, personal, and family narratives: “Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews” and “Complete Guide to Writing A Personal Narrative.”

1. What do you know about the death of this individual?
   • What is the name of the person?
   • How old was the individual?
   • When was the person born?
   • What was the date of death?
   • Where did they live?
   • What were the circ*mstances of their death? Such as medical condition, old age, accident, unknown?
2. How did family and friends respond to their death? Explain.
3. What was the person doing in their life during the time of their death? Such as occupation, hobby, and more?
4. What are the known highlights of this person’s life for writing an obituary?
   • Highlights of life age 0-11?
   • Highlights of life age 11-18?
   • Highlights of life age 18-25?
   • Highlights of life age 25-45?
   • Highlights of life age 45-65?
   • Highlights of life age 65+?
5. What do we know about the person’s life in regards to
   • Parents and siblings?
   • Current family?
   • Work/career?
   • Individual interests/hobbies?
   • Religious affiliation and activity?
   • Other?
6. How would you describe the person’s physical traits and values?
7. How would you describe the person’s personality?
8. Did the person have favorite sayings?
9. What were the person’s most important events in their life?
10. What effect did the person have on others?
11. Did the person have a favorite pet?
12. What is the person’s favorite place, music, entertainment?
13. How did the person change over time?
14. What did the person mean to you personally?
15. Who was the person survived by?
    • Spouse?
    • Parents?
    • Family?
    • Siblings?
    • Children and their families?
16. Who died before this person?
    • Spouse?
    • Parents?
    • Family?
    • Siblings?
    • Children and their families
17. Where family, friends, or others present at the time of death?
    • If yes, can you share the experience?
18. What will happen to the remains of the person? Such as buried, cremated.
    • What are the family, religious, cultural traditions?
    • Is there a cemetery or place where you can go to visit the remains? Such as cemetery? If yes, where?
19. Will there be viewing, service, funeral, wake or other for this person?
    • Describe the observances?
20. Will there be a gathering of the family after the individual’s services?
21. What else is important to remember?

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