Obituary Generator
Fill in the details you have (name, dates, family, life story and service information) and choose a short death notice, a newspaper obituary or a fuller online version. The tool writes it in the standard order, calculates the age, and counts words, characters and estimated column lines so you can estimate the newspaper cost.
Last updated:
Placeholders in [brackets] still need details. Click the text to edit it; counts update as you type. Always double-check names, dates and spellings with family before submitting.
How to use the Obituary Generator
- Choose a format: death notice, newspaper obituary or online obituary.
- Enter the essentials: full name, city, birth and death dates. The age is calculated for you.
- Add the life story: education, career, military service, marriage and interests.
- List family and service details, including donations in lieu of flowers.
- Check the counts, enter your newspaper’s price per line for a cost estimate, then edit and copy the text.
Standard obituary order
| Section | Typical content | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement | Name, age, residence, date of death | Robert “Bob” Callahan, 78, of Springfield, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026. |
| Life story | Birth, parents, education, service, marriage, career | Bob was born on March 4, 1948, in Peoria, to William and Rose Callahan. |
| Personality | Interests, memberships, what people loved about them | He coached Little League for 20 years. |
| Family | Survived by, preceded in death by | He is survived by his wife, Linda; … |
| Services | Service, visitation, burial | A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at St. Mark’s Church. |
| Donations and arrangements | In lieu of flowers, funeral home | Memorial donations may be made to … |
Death notice vs. newspaper vs. online obituary
- Death notice: the essentials in one paragraph, often beginning with the surname in capitals (CALLAHAN, Robert James). Cheapest to print.
- Newspaper obituary: a concise life story in several short paragraphs, usually 200–400 words.
- Online obituary: a fuller version with birth and death dates under the name and an invitation to share condolences.
Estimating newspaper length and cost
Estimated cost = column lines × price per line. Lines are counted by wrapping each paragraph at the characters-per-line you set. For example, 1,500 characters at 30 characters per line is roughly 50 lines plus partial lines at paragraph ends; at a price of $5 per line that would be about $250. Rates vary a lot, so always confirm with the paper.
Before you submit
- Double-check the spelling of every name and the dates with family members.
- Confirm service times and addresses with the funeral home.
- Ask the newspaper about deadlines, photo fees and whether the obituary also appears online.
- For privacy and security, avoid including the exact birth date and home address if you prefer; many families use month and year only.
Frequently asked questions
What information goes in an obituary?
Full name (and nickname), age, city of residence, date of death, birth date and place, parents, education, career, military service, marriage, interests and character, surviving family, those who preceded them in death, and service details such as date, time, place, visitation, burial and memorial donations.
What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary?
A death notice is a short paid announcement with the essential facts and service details. An obituary is longer and tells the story of the person’s life. Many families publish a short notice in print and a fuller obituary online, where length is usually not limited.
How long should an obituary be?
Newspaper obituaries are often 200 to 400 words because many papers charge by the line or word. Death notices may be under 100 words. Online and funeral home obituaries can be 400 to 800 words or more.
How much does a newspaper obituary cost?
It varies widely by paper, day and length; many papers charge per line, some per word or a flat fee, and a photo usually costs extra. Ask your newspaper or funeral home for current rates and the characters per column line, then enter the price per line here to estimate the cost from the line count.
How is the line count estimated?
The text is wrapped word by word at the characters-per-line value you enter (30 by default, typical of narrow newspaper columns), paragraph by paragraph. The actual count depends on the paper’s font and layout, so treat it as an estimate.
How do you list survivors in an obituary?
Usually spouse first, then children (with their spouses in parentheses), grandchildren and great-grandchildren (often as a number), then parents, siblings and others. For example: “his wife, Linda; children Sarah (Tom) Weber and Michael Callahan; and five grandchildren.”
Is the information I enter stored anywhere?
No. The obituary is created in your browser. Your last inputs are kept only in this browser’s local storage, and nothing is uploaded.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.