Free obituary writer
Tell us about them.
We’ll help you find the words.
Answer a few gentle questions, typed or spoken. You’ll get a heartfelt obituary, a eulogy for the service and the story of their life, in minutes.
Start here
Who are you writing about?
Take your time. You can skip anything you don’t know.
Free · No account needed · About 10 minutes
How it works
1
Answer a few questions
Where they grew up, who they loved, what they loved doing, a favorite memory. Skip anything you don’t know.
2
Read your draft
An obituary, a eulogy for the service and the moments of their life in order, written from your words.
3
Make it yours
Edit anything, try a different tone, copy it for the newspaper or funeral home, and email yourself a copy.
How to write an obituary
An obituary does two things: it tells people that someone has passed and when the service is, and it gives a short picture of who they were. You don’t need to be a writer. Most good obituaries follow the same simple order:
- The announcement. Their full name, age, where they lived and the date they passed.
- Their life. Where they were born and grew up, school, service, work and the family they made.
- Who they were. What they loved, what made them laugh, the things people will remember.
- Family. The people they leave behind and those who passed before them.
- Service details. Day, time and place, and where to send flowers or donations.
Write the way you would talk about them to a friend. One real detail, like the song they always sang in the car, says more than a list of kind words.
Questions families ask
- Is the obituary writer really free?
- Yes. Writing, editing, copying and emailing your obituary and eulogy are free, with no account needed. If you would like a Legacy Website for them, you can start it free and pay once only when it is ready.
- Will it make things up?
- No. It writes only from what you tell it. If you skip a question, that part is simply left out, so please read it over and add anything that is missing.
- How long should an obituary be?
- Most obituaries are 200 to 450 words. Newspapers often charge by the line, so many families print a shorter version and share the full one online.
- What goes in an obituary?
- Their full name and age, when they passed, where they were born and grew up, family, work, what they loved, the people they leave behind, and the service details.
- What is the difference between an obituary and a eulogy?
- An obituary is written about them, in the third person, to share the news and service details. A eulogy is spoken at the service, in your own voice, and is more personal.
- Can I come back and change it?
- Yes. Your draft is saved in this browser, and if you email yourself a copy, the link brings you back to it from any device.
- Can I speak my answers instead of typing?
- Yes. Tap the microphone next to each question and talk, the way you would tell a friend about them.