30 Obituary Examples That Beautifully Capture a Life (and a few extras)

Obituary examples are complete, written tributes that show you exactly what a finished obituary looks like — not fill-in-the-blank templates, but real sentences, real names, and real details. A good obituary opens with the person's full name, age, and date of passing, then moves into who they were as a person, lists surviving family in order, and closes with service details and a donation request.

This guide contains 50 fully written obituary examples across 13 categories: short and simple, for a mother, for a father, for a husband, for a wife, for a grandparent, for a young person, for a sibling, for a veteran, faith-based, humorous and creative, long-form, and non-religious. Every example uses realistic names, specific details, and a complete structure so you can read it as a finished document and adapt what resonates.

If you are writing from scratch and want to understand the format before reading examples, our complete obituary writing guide walks you through every element step by step. If you prefer a fill-in-the-blank starting point, our free obituary templates offer formatted structures you can complete in minutes. This guide focuses entirely on fully written examples.

Short Obituary Examples (80–150 Words)

Short obituaries are ideal for newspaper print, where space is limited and every word carries a cost. Funeral directors generally recommend keeping print obituaries under 200 words and saving the fuller tribute for an online memorial or funeral program. These eight examples show how to honor someone with brevity and dignity.

1. Standard Announcement

Eleanor Mae Whitfield, 83, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2026, at Sartori Memorial Hospital. Born June 14, 1942, Eleanor spent 35 years as a fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary, where she was known for her patience and her habit of keeping a jar of butterscotch candies on her desk. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Whitfield-Cho; her son, Brian Whitfield; four grandchildren; and her sister, Joan Ritter. A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 8, at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cedar Falls Public Library.

2. Minimalist Tribute

Thomas "Tom" Reeves, 71, of Portland, Oregon, died February 18, 2026, after a brief illness. Tom was a carpenter by trade and an artist by nature, spending his weekends building birdhouses for neighbors and restoring furniture he found at estate sales. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda, and their three children. A private service was held by the family. Those who knew Tom are encouraged to plant a tree in his memory — he would have liked that more than flowers.

3. Family-Focused

Lorraine Chen, 66, of San Jose, California, passed away January 29, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Lorraine immigrated to the United States at 19 and built a life centered on her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Peter; her children, Daniel and Michelle Chen-Nakamura; her grandchildren, Lily, Owen, and Max; and her brother, Wei-Lin Huang, of Taipei. A celebration of life will be held February 8 at 2:00 PM at Grace Community Church, San Jose.

4. Brief and Dignified

Robert Alan Marsh, 79, of Knoxville, Tennessee, died peacefully at his home February 5, 2026. Robert retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority after 32 years of service and spent his retirement fishing on Douglas Lake and volunteering at the Knoxville Food Bank. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; two sons, Robert Jr. and Daniel; and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on February 10 at 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

5. Private Service Notice

Dorothy "Dot" Simmons, 88, of Savannah, Georgia, passed away January 15, 2026, at her home in the Historic District, where she lived for 62 years. Dot was a retired librarian, a devoted bridge player, and a champion of local historic preservation. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, and her son, Michael. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Grady, and three grandchildren. Per Dot's wishes, a private service will be held for the immediate family. Her family asks that you honor her memory by visiting your local library.

6. Sudden Loss

James Arthur Novak, 62, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly February 22, 2026. James was a dedicated electrician, a youth hockey coach, and the kind of neighbor who shoveled your sidewalk before you woke up. He is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children, Sarah and James II; his mother, Rose; and his brother, Peter. A memorial service will be held March 1 at 10:00 AM at Holy Name Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Minneapolis Youth Hockey Association.

7. Beloved Grandmother

Ruth Elaine Harmon, 91, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away March 5, 2026. Ruth was the kind of grandmother who pressed dollar bills into your palm when your parents weren't looking and always had a tin of butter cookies on the counter. She was a retired bookkeeper, a faithful member of First United Methodist Church, and the reigning Scrabble champion of the Harmon family for 40 consecutive years. She is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. A service will be held March 12 at First United Methodist Church.

8. Young Adult Passing

Alejandro "Alex" Vega, 28, of Austin, Texas, passed away February 14, 2026. Alex was a software engineer at a local startup, a passionate skateboarder, and the person his friends called first when anything went wrong — because he always answered. He is survived by his parents, Miguel and Carmen Vega; his sister, Isabela; and his dog, Biscuit. A memorial gathering will be held February 21 at Epoch Coffee on North Loop. The family requests donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Obituary Examples for a Mother

A mother's obituary carries the weight of a lifetime of quiet work — the dinners made, the worries absorbed, the love given without accounting. These five examples honor different kinds of mothers: the large-personality ones, the quietly steadfast, the immigrants who built something from nothing, and the single parents who held everything together. If you are also preparing a spoken tribute, our eulogy examples for a mother guide offers additional inspiration.

9. The Gardener — Margaret Ann Sullivan

Margaret Ann Sullivan, 74, of Wheaton, Illinois, passed away February 12, 2026, after a courageous two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Margaret — Maggie to everyone who knew her — was born April 3, 1951, in Joliet, the eldest of four children. She married her high school sweetheart, Dennis, in 1972 and raised three children in the home on Elm Street where she lived for 48 years.

Maggie's garden was legendary in the neighborhood. She grew tomatoes the size of softballs, kept a row of sunflowers along the back fence every summer, and had a habit of leaving bags of zucchini on porches in August. She was a grandmother of seven, and every one of them knew that Grandma's house meant homemade apple pie and hot chocolate made on the stove, never from a packet.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis; her children, Kevin Sullivan (wife Amy), Colleen Burke (husband Patrick), and Erin Sullivan-Brandt (husband Todd); seven grandchildren; and her sisters, Kathleen Doyle and Eileen Rizzo. A funeral mass will be held at St. Daniel the Prophet Church on February 17 at 10:00 AM. Memorial donations may be directed to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

10. The Immigrant Mother — Anita Desai

Anita Desai, 69, of Edison, New Jersey, passed away January 20, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Mumbai, India, Anita came to the United States in 1981 with her husband, Rajesh, carrying two suitcases and a nursing degree she would have to earn all over again in a new country. She did — graduating from Rutgers with top honors at 33 while raising two small children.

For 28 years, Anita worked as a registered nurse at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, known for her calm presence during emergencies and her habit of bringing homemade chai to the nurses' station on night shifts. Her children remember her as the mother who never complained about working double shifts, helped with homework at midnight, and somehow still made fresh roti every Sunday morning.

She is survived by her husband, Rajesh Desai; her daughter, Priya Desai-Kowalski; her son, Vikram Desai; and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Edison Hindu Temple on January 26. The family requests donations to the American Nurses Foundation.

11. The Single Mother — Patricia Moore

Patricia Moore, 64, of Baltimore, Maryland, passed away February 28, 2026, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Pat was born November 7, 1961, in West Baltimore and raised three children — Darnell, Keisha, and Tamika — largely on her own, working as a cafeteria manager at Northwood Elementary during the day and cleaning offices downtown at night.

Her children never knew how hard it was until they were adults. Pat kept a spotless home, enforced homework before television, and insisted that every Sunday the family sit down for dinner together, even if dinner was just rice and beans. She made it feel like a feast. She found a way to put something under the Christmas tree every single year.

She is survived by her children, Darnell Moore, Keisha Moore-Washington, and Tamika Moore; nine grandchildren; and her sisters, Denise Carter and Gloria Howard. A homegoing service will be held at New Shiloh Baptist Church on March 7 at 10:00 AM. The family asks for memorial donations to the Baltimore City Public Schools Foundation.

12. The Creative Mother — Diana Grace Ellison

Diana Grace Ellison, 71, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away March 1, 2026, at home, surrounded by the paintings that covered every wall. Diana spent 45 years as an art teacher at Santa Fe Preparatory School, where she turned a weekly drawing class into a lifelong love of art for hundreds of students. She painted every morning before school, kept a sketchbook in her purse, and believed that creativity was not a talent but a habit.

Her children grew up in a house where the kitchen table was always covered in projects — ceramic bowls, watercolor experiments, half-finished mosaics. They learned early that mess was a sign of something good happening. Diana is survived by her husband of 46 years, Richard; her children, Paul Ellison and Margot Ellison-Navarro; four grandchildren; and her sister, Carol Tanner, of Albuquerque. A memorial service will be held at the New Mexico Museum of Art on March 9 at 2:00 PM.

13. The Matriarch — Bea Kowalczyk

Beatrice "Bea" Kowalczyk, 96, of Buffalo, New York, passed away February 25, 2026, surrounded by three generations of the family she spent her life building. Bea was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1929, survived the Second World War as a teenager, and immigrated to the United States in 1951 with her husband, Stanislaw. She never stopped being grateful for the country that gave her a second life.

Bea raised six children in a three-bedroom house on Fillmore Avenue and fed anyone who walked through her door. She worked at the Chevy plant for 20 years, attended daily mass every morning for 60 years, and spent every Sunday hosting a dinner that eventually required two full dining tables. She is survived by her six children, 19 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held at St. Stanislaus Parish on March 3. Bea would want you to eat.

Obituary Examples for a Father

A father's obituary often has to bridge the gap between the public man — the provider, the veteran, the worker — and the private one: the dad who coached Little League, made the same three jokes at every holiday, and showed love through doing rather than saying. These five examples try to capture both.

14. The Coach — William "Bill" Torres

William "Bill" Torres, 78, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away March 1, 2026, surrounded by his family. Bill was born September 22, 1947, in Laredo and served two tours in Vietnam before returning home to marry Maria Elena Garza in 1971. He spent 30 years as a mechanic at Randolph Air Force Base and his evenings coaching Little League at Woodlawn Park for 14 seasons.

Bill never kept a win-loss record. He said the only stat that mattered was whether every kid got to play. He was a man who believed that showing up was the most important thing a father could do, and he never missed a recital, a game, or a school play in his children's lives.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Maria Elena; his children, David Torres, Angela Torres-Medina, and Michael Torres; six grandchildren; and his brother, Richard Torres, of Laredo. Funeral services will be held at San Fernando Cathedral on March 6. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Wounded Warrior Project.

15. The Stubborn One — Frank Kowalski

Frank Kowalski, 82, of Hamtramck, Michigan, passed away February 8, 2026, almost certainly arguing with someone about something. Frank was a proud Hamtramck native who worked 38 years at the Dodge Main plant and spent his retirement doing two things he loved: fixing things that weren't broken and yelling at umpires from the stands at Tigers games. He once drove four hours to Comerica Park to watch a game in the rain because "the tickets were already paid for."

Beneath the stubbornness was a man who loved deeply and expressed it through action rather than words — the fridge always stocked, the car always serviced, the grandkids' college funds seeded without announcement. He is survived by his children, Mark Kowalski, Susan Kowalski-Davis, and Paul Kowalski; eight grandchildren; and his brother, Stanley Jr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, in 2019. Services will be held at St. Florian Church on February 14 at 11:00 AM.

16. The Quiet Provider — Richard Osei-Bonsu

Richard Osei-Bonsu, 67, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away February 17, 2026. Richard was born in Kumasi, Ghana, in 1958 and immigrated to the United States in 1982 to pursue a graduate degree in electrical engineering at Ohio State. He never went back — not because he didn't love Ghana, but because Columbus had become home.

Richard worked for Ohio Edison for 30 years and retired as a senior engineer. He was a deacon at Grace Lutheran Church, a member of the Ghanaian-American Association of Central Ohio, and the father who drove his daughters to every AP exam, every college tour, and every job interview. He believed that a parent's highest work was creating conditions for their children to exceed them — and his children did.

He is survived by his wife, Abena Osei-Bonsu; his daughters, Adwoa Osei-Bonsu-Park and Efua Osei-Bonsu; two grandchildren; and his sister, Akua Mensah, of Accra. A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on February 24. Donations may be made to the Columbus Urban League in Richard's name.

17. The World Traveler — Raymond Charles Holt

Raymond Charles Holt, 75, of Seattle, Washington, passed away March 3, 2026. Ray worked as a merchant marine for 20 years, which meant his children spent a portion of their childhoods waiting for him to come home and the rest of their lives trying to see the world the way he had taught them to see it. He visited 44 countries on every continent except Antarctica, though he always said he was working on it.

After leaving the merchant fleet, Ray opened a bookstore in Fremont that became a neighborhood fixture for 25 years. He was famously reluctant to sell any book he personally loved and would sometimes talk customers into buying a different book entirely. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, Claire Holt-Nakamura and Gregory Holt; three grandchildren; and his brother, Dennis Holt, of San Francisco. A service will be held at his bookstore, Holt's Books, on March 10 at 3:00 PM. All are welcome.

18. The Devoted Stepfather — Gerald "Jerry" Weston

Gerald "Jerry" Weston, 63, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away February 19, 2026. Jerry married Diane Carroll in 2001 and spent the next 25 years being the kind of stepfather that some children are lucky enough to have and most are not. He attended every school event, helped with every college application, and walked his stepdaughter, Kayla, down the aisle without anyone in the room doubting that he was her father in every way that mattered.

Jerry worked as a high school band director for 35 years and shaped the musical lives of more students than he could count. He played guitar on Sunday mornings at Christ Church and coached his son's wrestling team for eight seasons. He is survived by his wife, Diane; his children, Brandon Weston and Kayla Carroll-Hughes; four grandchildren; and his mother, Norma Weston, of Memphis. A celebration of life will be held at Christ Church Nashville on February 26 at 4:00 PM.

Obituary Examples for a Husband

Writing an obituary for a spouse is different from writing for anyone else. You are not just describing a person — you are describing the person who shaped the texture of your days, and whose absence changes almost everything. These four examples find different ways to honor that kind of love.

19. The Firefighter — David Paul Henderson

David Paul Henderson, 73, of Tacoma, Washington, passed away February 14, 2026 — Valentine's Day — which his wife, Carol, says is exactly the kind of dramatic timing David would have chosen. David served 28 years with the Tacoma Fire Department, retiring as a battalion chief. He never talked about work at home. "That's work," he would say. "Home is home."

In retirement, David discovered woodworking and built Carol a writing desk she says is the most beautiful thing she owns. He spent Saturday mornings at the Tacoma Farmers Market, Sunday afternoons watching football with his sons, and every Wednesday evening at the VFW organizing fundraisers for families of fallen firefighters.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; his sons, Jason and Tyler Henderson; three grandchildren; and his sister, Patricia Henderson-Blake, of Portland. A memorial service with firefighter honors will be held at Tacoma First Baptist Church on February 21. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

20. The Blended Family — George Raymond Alvarado

George Raymond Alvarado, 69, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away January 25, 2026. George married Linda Beckett in 2005 and together they blended a family of five children who tested his patience and earned his devotion in equal measure. He was fond of saying, "I didn't just marry Linda — I married a whole operation." He was a civil engineer for the New Mexico Department of Transportation for 34 years and expressed love through reliability: never late, never forgetful, never unavailable.

His blended family of seven grandchildren knew him simply as Papa George, and he answered to it with a grin every time. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, Gabriel and Elena Alvarado-Fisher; his stepchildren, Kyle, Megan Beckett-Chung, and Andrew Beckett; seven grandchildren; and his brother, Hector Alvarado. Services will be held at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church on February 1 at 9:30 AM.

21. Long Marriage — Howard Ellis

Howard Ellis, 85, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away February 1, 2026. Howard served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War before returning home to marry his sweetheart, Virginia "Ginny" Moss, in 1960. Their marriage lasted 60 years — the last four after Ginny's passing — and Howard never stopped setting two coffee cups on the counter each morning out of habit.

Howard worked as a postal carrier for 33 years and knew every family on his route by name. In retirement, he spent his mornings at the Carytown Diner with the same group of friends for 20 years in the same corner booth. The word his family uses is "grateful." He was grateful for his wife, grateful for his children, grateful for his country, and grateful for every single morning.

He is survived by his children, Howard Jr., Pamela Ellis-Tucker, and Diane Ellis; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his brother, Gene Ellis. A service with military honors will be held at Hollywood Cemetery on February 8. Memorial donations may be made to the USO.

22. Devoted Partner — Marco Reyes Fuentes

Marco Reyes Fuentes, 55, of Miami, Florida, passed away February 28, 2026, after a 16-month battle with colon cancer. Marco was born in Havana in 1970 and came to Miami with his family at age 12. He spent his career as an architect, designing buildings throughout South Florida that he would point out from the highway with barely concealed pride.

Marco and his partner of 22 years, Luis Castillo, married in 2015 and spent their life building a home full of art, music, and good food. Marco learned to cook Cuban food from his grandmother's handwritten recipes and hosted Sunday dinners that were widely considered unmissable. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernesto and Yolanda Fuentes. He is survived by his husband, Luis Castillo; his sister, Ana Fuentes-Rivera; two nephews; and the friends he chose as family. A celebration of life will be held at their home on March 7. The family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.

Obituary Examples for a Wife

These four examples honor women at different stages of life — a long marriage, a life cut too short, a second chapter of love, and a woman who was a force of nature in her community.

23. The Anchor — Susan Marie Callahan

Susan Marie Callahan, 67, of Naperville, Illinois, passed away January 30, 2026, with her husband holding her hand, just as she had held his through 45 years of marriage. Susan and Michael met at a homecoming dance at Naperville Central in 1976, and Michael will tell you that he knew by the second song that he was going to marry her. Susan would tell you it took her a bit longer — about three songs.

She worked as an office manager for Dr. Gerald Phelps for 22 years and was the person who made that practice run. She kept schedules, remembered patients' birthdays, and had a system for everything that no one else could replicate. At home, she was the anchor — the one who found the lost shoes and kept the family calendar that everyone depended on but never appreciated enough until now.

She is survived by her husband, Michael; her children, Ryan Callahan and Meghan Callahan-O'Brien; five grandchildren; and her sister, Karen DiNardo. A funeral mass will be held at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on February 5 at 10:30 AM. Memorial donations may be made to the Naperville Humane Society, a cause dear to Susan's heart.

24. Too Young — Jennifer Lynn Park

Jennifer Lynn Park, 44, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away February 10, 2026, after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Jen fought the disease with the same determination she brought to everything else — fiercely, privately, and with a refusal to let it define her. She continued coaching her daughter's soccer team through two rounds of chemotherapy and only stopped when her body insisted.

Born in Raleigh on August 15, 1981, Jen graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and worked as a marketing director at Atrium Health. She married Christopher Park in 2010 and together they built a home filled with noise, laughter, and an unreasonable number of rescue animals. She left handwritten notes in her children's lunchboxes every day. Her family asked that no one wear black to her celebration of life.

She is survived by her husband, Christopher; her children, Grace, age 12, and Ethan, age 9; her parents, Donald and Shirley Benson; and her brother, Matthew Benson. A celebration of life will be held February 16 at Myers Park United Methodist Church. The family requests donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

25. Second Marriage — Vivian "Vivi" Laurent

Vivian "Vivi" Laurent, 76, of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away February 6, 2026, and she would like you to know that she is not interested in a sad funeral. Vivi was born March 22, 1949, in the Tremé neighborhood. She worked as a florist on Magazine Street for 30 years and married her second husband, Charles Laurent, in 1998, finding at 49 the love she said felt like a reward for surviving the first part of her life.

Vivi requested that her service include live jazz, her favorite gumbo recipe, and absolutely no black clothing. She is survived by her husband, Charles; her daughter, Monique Laurent-Baptiste; her son, Andre Laurent; five grandchildren; and her sister, Claudette Laurent. A second-line celebration will step off from St. Augustine Church on February 15 at 1:00 PM. Wear something with color — Vivi insisted.

26. Community Leader — Esperanza "Hope" Gutierrez

Esperanza "Hope" Gutierrez, 81, of El Paso, Texas, passed away February 15, 2026. Hope earned her nickname the way only a life well-lived can earn one — by being the person her community turned to when they needed help. Born in Juárez, Mexico, she crossed the border as a young woman and spent six decades building a life in El Paso that touched thousands.

Hope volunteered with Catholic Charities for 40 years, organized the annual Thanksgiving meal at Sacred Heart Church that fed 500 people each year, and ran an informal job-placement network from her kitchen table. Dozens of families in El Paso trace their start in America back to a phone call Hope made on their behalf. She is survived by her children, Rosa Gutierrez-Peña, Carlos Gutierrez, and Sofia Gutierrez; 11 grandchildren; and her sister, Lucía Morales, of Juárez. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernesto, in 2018. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on February 22.

Obituary Examples for a Grandparent

A grandparent's obituary often carries multiple chapters — a life before children, the years of raising a family, and then the long, golden era of grandparenthood. These examples try to honor all three chapters, while keeping the focus on who they were to the grandchildren who will miss them most.

27. The Baker — Josephine "Jo" Peretti

Josephine "Jo" Peretti, 86, of Providence, Rhode Island, passed away February 4, 2026, and took her cannoli recipe with her. This was deliberate. Jo was born January 8, 1940, in Federal Hill, the daughter of Sicilian immigrants. She ran Peretti's Bakery on Atwells Avenue for 40 years, where she was known for her sfogliatelle, her refusal to make anything gluten-free, and her habit of giving free cookies to every child who walked through the door. When asked for her recipes, she would smile and say, "You just have to feel it."

She is survived by her sons, Anthony, Salvatore, and Joseph Jr.; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and her sister, Rosa DiMauro, of Cranston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Sr. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Ghost Church on February 10 at 10:00 AM. The cannoli recipe is gone forever. The family requests donations to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

28. The Grateful One — Ruth Eleanor Stanton

Ruth Eleanor Stanton, 92, of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away February 22, 2026. Ruth was born in 1933 in Pike County, Kentucky, one of ten children, and she spent her entire life grateful for things that the rest of us forgot to notice — a good cup of coffee, a working furnace, a grandchild who called on a Tuesday for no reason.

Ruth worked as a seamstress for 30 years and made a quilt for every grandchild when they married. She is survived by her son, Donald Stanton, and her daughter, Peggy Stanton-Owens; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Mabel Akers, of Pikeville. A graveside service will be held at Blue Grass Memorial Gardens on February 28. The family requests donations to God's Pantry Food Bank.

29. The Patriarch — Ernest "Ernie" Beaumont

Ernest "Ernie" Beaumont, 88, of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away March 4, 2026. Ernie was born in Gentilly in 1937 and never left a city that he said had no equal on earth. He worked as a longshoreman at the Port of New Orleans for 35 years and raised five children in a house on Caffin Avenue that always had music playing and something on the stove.

Ernie played trombone with a brass band in his younger years, coached youth basketball for two decades, and had the deepest laugh of anyone his grandchildren had ever heard. He is survived by his five children, 17 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Celeste, in 2020. A jazz funeral will step off from his home on March 11. The family invites everyone who knew him to join.

Obituary Examples for a Young Person or Sibling

There is no grief quite like losing someone young, or losing a sibling — the person who shared your history from the very beginning. Bereavement counselors frequently observe that families find it harder to write an obituary for a young person because it feels like the life doesn't have enough chapters yet. These examples show that even a short life has a profound story, and that the absence of length is not the absence of meaning.

30. Young Adult — Nathan James Cooper

Nathan James Cooper, 16, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away February 20, 2026. Nathan was a junior at Blue Valley Northwest High School, where he played center midfielder on the varsity soccer team and was known as the kid who said hello to everyone — freshmen, seniors, teachers, custodians. His coach said Nathan was the first player on the field and the last one off, not because he was trying to impress anyone, but because he genuinely loved the game.

Nathan had plans to study engineering at Kansas State and dreams of building things that lasted. He spent his summers volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. He was the kind of teenager who still hugged his parents in public, who mowed the neighbor's lawn without being asked, and who made every room a little brighter just by walking into it. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Rebecca Cooper; his sister, Ava, age 13; and his grandparents. A celebration of Nathan's life will be held at Church of the Resurrection on February 27. The family has established the Nathan Cooper Memorial Scholarship Fund at Blue Valley Northwest High School.

31. Young Adult — Maya Renée Holloway

Maya Renée Holloway, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away February 11, 2026. Maya graduated from Spelman College in 2024 with a degree in public health and had just accepted a position at Grady Memorial Hospital that she had been working toward for four years. She was brilliant, funny in the specific way that makes you feel seen, and the kind of friend who remembered the details of your life and asked about them weeks later.

Maya was a lifelong dancer, a devoted daughter, and the older sister who set the standard that her siblings are now trying to reach. She is survived by her parents, Terrence and Diane Holloway; her brother, Isaiah; and her grandmother, Loretta Holloway, of Savannah. A homegoing celebration will be held at Friendship Baptist Church on February 18 at 11:00 AM. The family requests donations to the Spelman College scholarship fund in Maya's name.

32. A Brother — Marcus Anthony Williams

Marcus Anthony Williams, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away February 3, 2026. Marcus graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in communications and worked as a production assistant at a local news station. He had a talent for making everyone around him laugh — not with rehearsed jokes but with observations so sharp and perfectly timed that you couldn't help yourself. He was the friend who drove across town at midnight when you needed to talk, and the brother who never let a week go by without calling.

He is survived by his mother, Diane Williams; his brothers, Terrence and Dwayne; his nieces and nephews; and his girlfriend, Taylor Robinson. He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Williams. A homegoing celebration will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church on February 10 at 11:00 AM.

33. A Sister — Emily Rose Fitzgerald

Emily Rose Fitzgerald, 41, of Denver, Colorado, passed away January 18, 2026, after a four-year battle with ALS. Emily faced her diagnosis with a clarity that humbled everyone around her. She continued working as a speech therapist for two years after her diagnosis, saying she wanted to help others find their words for as long as she still had hers. She raised over $40,000 for the ALS Association through a blog she wrote with an eye-tracking device when her hands could no longer type.

She is survived by her husband, Ryan; her daughters, Nora, age 11, and Chloe, age 8; her parents, Michael and Judith Hartley; her sister, Laura; and her brother, Brian. A memorial service will be held January 25 at Calvary Baptist Church, Denver. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the ALS Association Rocky Mountain Chapter.

Veteran and Military Service Obituary Examples

For those whose lives were shaped by military service, an obituary carries the dual responsibility of honoring the service while also capturing the full person behind the uniform. Funeral directors who specialize in veteran services advise listing rank, branch, years of service, and any major decorations in the opening paragraph — and then stepping back from the military facts to show who the person was when they came home.

34. Marine Colonel — Colonel Steven Wayne Barrett

Colonel (Ret.) Steven Wayne Barrett, USMC, 81, of Oceanside, California, passed away February 11, 2026. Colonel Barrett served 30 years in the United States Marine Corps, including combat tours in Vietnam and the Gulf War. He earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Valor, and the Purple Heart — and never talked about any of them unless directly asked.

Born August 4, 1944, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Steve enlisted at 18 and rose through the ranks with a leadership style his Marines described as "firm, fair, and the first one through the door." After retiring in 1992, he mentored young officers for another 15 years. He married Catherine O'Dell in 1968, and their marriage survived 12 relocations, three continents, and a deployment schedule that would have broken most couples.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Catherine; his children, Major (Ret.) Steven Barrett Jr. and Dr. Sarah Barrett-Klein; five grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Barrett-Owens, of Tulsa. A funeral with full military honors will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on February 18. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

35. Navy Veteran — Patricia Jean Nowak

Patricia Jean Nowak, 62, of San Diego, California, passed away February 25, 2026. Patricia served eight years in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman, including a deployment to Naval Station Rota in Spain, before separating as a Petty Officer Second Class and enrolling in nursing school at San Diego State. She spent the next 30 years as an ICU nurse at Scripps Mercy Hospital.

Pat was the kind of nurse that families asked for by name. She worked nights for 15 of her 30 years because, she said, that was when patients needed someone most. She is survived by her husband, David Nowak; her son, Christopher; her daughter, Michelle Nowak-Reyes; and three grandchildren. A service with military honors will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on March 4. Donations may be made to the Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs.

36. Military Spouse — Nancy Jean Blackwell

Nancy Jean Blackwell, 79, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, passed away February 21, 2026. Nancy married Sergeant Major (Ret.) Harold Blackwell in 1966 and over the next 26 years moved 11 times, set up household on two continents, and raised three children who learned to make friends within the first week of a new school. Nancy was the quiet backbone of a military family. She ran the Family Readiness Group at Fort Bragg for eight years and held other military spouses together during deployments that stretched months beyond what anyone expected.

She is survived by her husband, Harold; her children, Harold Jr., Donna Blackwell-Parker, and Christine Blackwell; seven grandchildren; and her sister, Betty Collins. A service will be held at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church on February 28. The family requests donations to Blue Star Families in Nancy's honor.

Faith-Based Obituary Examples

For families whose faith was central to the life being honored, the obituary is also a statement of belief. These three examples show how to integrate faith language authentically — whether the deceased was lifelong Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, or interfaith — without making the obituary feel like a religious document rather than a personal tribute.

37. Baptist Pastor — Reverend Charles Odom

Reverend Charles Odom, 73, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away January 22, 2026, after a long illness. Reverend Odom pastored Greater Hope Baptist Church for 40 years, during which time the congregation grew from 45 members meeting in a storefront to over 1,200 worshipping in the sanctuary he helped build with his own hands. He performed over 800 weddings, officiated more funerals than he could count, and visited every sick member of his congregation personally — a practice he continued even after his own health began to decline.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his children, Charles Jr., Reverend James, and Cheryl Odom-Banks; 12 grandchildren; and his brother, Deacon Willie Odom. A homegoing celebration will be held at Greater Hope Baptist Church on January 30 at 11:00 AM. Memorial donations may be directed to the Greater Hope Scholarship Fund.

38. Jewish Grandmother — Sylvia Ruth Kaplan

Sylvia Ruth Kaplan, 89, of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away March 1, 2026. Sylvia was born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, and spent her life doing two things well: feeding people and arguing with them. She was a founding member of Temple Beth Emet, a dedicated mah-jongg player, and the grandmother who bought you a sweater in July because "you never know."

Sylvia lit Shabbat candles every Friday evening for 60 years without exception, made brisket that her grandchildren are already fighting about who will carry on, and had a gift for telling the same story four times in one evening and making it better each time. She is survived by her children, Leonard Kaplan and Judith Kaplan-Levy; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held at Star of David Memorial Gardens on March 4. Shiva will be observed at the family home. The family requests donations to Hadassah.

39. Interfaith — Dr. Miriam Goldstein-Haddad

Dr. Miriam Goldstein-Haddad, 67, of Dearborn, Michigan, passed away February 5, 2026, after a year-long battle with ovarian cancer. Miriam was born in Brooklyn to a Jewish father and an Irish Catholic mother, and she spent her career studying what happens when faiths meet rather than collide. She earned her doctorate in religious studies from the University of Michigan and taught at Wayne State University for 30 years. In 1990, she married Dr. Karim Haddad, a Muslim cardiologist, and they raised two children in a household that celebrated Hanukkah, Christmas, and Eid with equal sincerity.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Karim Haddad; her children, Leah and Daniel Haddad; two grandchildren; her brother, Rabbi David Goldstein, of Brooklyn; and her sister, Colleen Goldstein-Murphy, of Boston. A memorial service will be held at the Detroit Interfaith Center on February 12, with readings from the Torah, the Quran, and the New Testament — exactly as Miriam would have wanted. Donations may be made to the Detroit Interfaith Dialogue Project.

Humorous and Creative Obituary Examples

Some people lived with a sense of humor that would make a traditional obituary feel dishonest. A creative or funny obituary, when done right, is one of the most genuine forms of tribute — it tells you more about who the person was than any list of accomplishments could. Bereavement professionals generally advise that humor works in an obituary when it reflects how the person actually talked and lived, and when the overall tone still communicates the depth of the loss.

40. Self-Written — Gerald "Jerry" Babcock

Gerald "Jerry" Babcock, 77, of Boise, Idaho, passed away February 9, 2026, and he wrote this himself because he didn't trust anyone else to get it right. Jerry was born April 1, 1948 — April Fools' Day — and spent 77 years living up to it. He taught high school history for 35 years and was beloved by students and tolerated by administrators, which he considered the correct ratio.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Donna, who he says was "the only person who ever won an argument with me, and she did it roughly 11,000 times." He is also survived by his children, Steve and Kelly Babcock-Dunn; four grandchildren he taught to play poker at an inappropriately young age; and his dog, Walter, who was his favorite family member and he is not sorry about it. A memorial service will be held February 16 at Cole Community Church. Jerry requests that you tell a good joke in his honor. He also requests that nobody bring potato salad to the reception — there was always too much potato salad.

41. The Sports Fanatic — Richard "Richie" Malone

Richard "Richie" Malone, 68, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away February 18, 2026, still waiting for the Cubs to win back-to-back World Series titles. Richie was a lifelong North Sider who attended his first game at Wrigley Field at age four and estimated he attended over 1,200 games in his lifetime. He worked as a plumber for Local 130 for 40 years and maintained that plumbing and baseball had the same core principle: "Sometimes you just have to wait for things to flow."

He is survived by his wife, Maureen; his children, Richie Jr., Danny, and Katie Malone-Sweeney; five grandchildren; and his brother, Kevin. A funeral mass will be held at St. Andrew Church on February 24. The family requests that you wear Cubs gear to the service. Richie would have wanted it that way.

42. The Stubborn Survivor — Edna Mae Hutchinson

Edna Mae Hutchinson, 94, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away January 12, 2026, on her own terms, just as she did everything else. Edna was born October 22, 1931, and outlived two husbands, a tornado, and a doctor who told her in 1987 that she had "maybe five years." She drove herself to church until she was 91, at which point her children finally took her keys — a battle harder than anything they have faced since.

Edna raised four children, ran a boarding house in the 1970s, and made the best peach cobbler in Tarrant County. She is survived by her children, Harold, Wanda, Doris, and Roy; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and her cat, Biscuit, who she liked better than most people and was open about it. A graveside service will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park on January 18. In lieu of flowers, eat a piece of pie in Edna's honor.

43. The Jazz Man — Arthur Okafor

Arthur Okafor, 70, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away January 27, 2026. Arthur worked as an accountant by day — a detail that never failed to surprise people who saw him play saxophone at jazz clubs across the South Side. He traveled to 31 countries, almost always choosing his destination based on the local music scene, and kept a journal of every live performance he attended, filling 14 notebooks over four decades. In retirement, he taught free saxophone lessons at the South Shore Cultural Center.

He is survived by his wife, Grace; his children, Samuel Okafor and Ngozi Okafor-Williams; three grandchildren; and his mother, Adaeze Okafor, of Lagos. A memorial service with live jazz will be held at the South Shore Cultural Center on February 3 at 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donate to the Jazz Foundation of America.

Non-Religious Obituary Examples

Not every person practiced a religion, and a non-religious obituary can be just as rich and meaningful as one that uses faith language. In our experience helping families through the memorial planning process, one of the most common concerns is how to honor someone who was secular or non-religious without the obituary feeling flat or clinical. The answer is the same as for any obituary: focus on what the person loved, what they stood for, and the mark they left on the people around them.

44. The Humanist — Bernard "Bernie" Schreiber

Bernard "Bernie" Schreiber, 80, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away February 3, 2026. Bernie was a professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin for 38 years and spent his career arguing, with characteristic warmth, that human beings are capable of profound decency without supernatural instruction. His students found him demanding, his colleagues found him provocative, and his family found him endlessly curious about everything — particularly why the coffee at faculty meetings was always terrible.

Bernie believed that a life well-lived was its own form of legacy, and he lived accordingly: mentoring dozens of graduate students, donating blood 200 times, volunteering at the Madison Public Defender's office on weekends, and reading to his grandchildren every Sunday afternoon without exception. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol; his children, Daniel Schreiber and Miriam Schreiber-Lynch; four grandchildren; and his sister, Helen Rosenblatt, of Chicago. A memorial gathering will be held at the Wisconsin Union on February 12 at 2:00 PM. The family requests donations to the American Civil Liberties Union.

45. The Nature Lover — Carol Ann Whiting

Carol Ann Whiting, 73, of Flagstaff, Arizona, passed away January 28, 2026. Carol was a forest ecologist at Northern Arizona University for 30 years and spent her career studying the slow resilience of ponderosa pine forests after wildfire. She was not a religious person, but she described her work in the forest as close to spiritual as anything she knew — the early morning light through the pines, the smell of soil after rain, the return of woodpeckers to a burned-over hillside.

Carol was an avid backcountry skier, a skilled watercolor painter of the landscapes she studied, and the kind of colleague who answered every question with a longer question. She is survived by her partner of 22 years, James Whitfield; her daughter, Sophia Whiting-Torres; her son, Owen Whiting; and two grandchildren. A gathering in Carol's memory will be held at the Coconino National Forest visitor center on February 8 at 11:00 AM. Those who wish to honor her are invited to donate to The Nature Conservancy.

46. The Community Builder — Phillip Okonkwo

Phillip Okonkwo, 66, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away February 20, 2026. Phillip was born in Lagos, Nigeria, immigrated to the United States in 1985, and spent the next four decades building things: a career in urban planning, a neighborhood association that turned a vacant lot into a community garden, and a family that expanded steadily as his four children married and had children of their own.

Phillip did not organize his life around religion but around people — their needs, their potential, and the systems that either helped or failed them. He served on the Minneapolis Planning Commission for 12 years and was the first person anyone called when they needed to navigate city hall. He is survived by his wife, Adaeze; his children, Emeka, Adaeze Jr., Chisom, and Nnamdi; seven grandchildren; and his brother, Chidi Okonkwo, of Lagos. A celebration of Phillip's life will be held at the Urban League of Metropolitan Minneapolis on February 27. Donations may be made to the Minneapolis Community Land Trust.

Long Obituary Examples (300+ Words)

When space is unlimited — as it is on a funeral home website, an online memorial, or a printed funeral program — a longer obituary gives you room to tell the full story. The National Funeral Directors Association notes that online obituaries average 400 to 600 words, and many families find that a fuller tribute creates a more lasting record of the person's life. These two examples show what a complete, long-form obituary looks like.

47. A Full Life — Dr. Constance "Connie" Abramowitz

Dr. Constance "Connie" Abramowitz, 84, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away March 8, 2026, at Pennsylvania Hospital, where she had worked as a pediatrician for 35 years. Connie was born October 15, 1941, in South Philadelphia, the youngest of three daughters of Nathan and Miriam Rosen, both of whom had immigrated from Poland in the 1920s. She grew up above her parents' dry goods store on Morris Street, where she learned early that work was a form of dignity and that you helped your neighbors because it was right, not because you expected credit.

Connie graduated from Girls High School in 1959 and earned her undergraduate degree from Temple University in 1963, one of a small number of women in her biology cohort. She attended Temple University School of Medicine and completed her residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 1970. In an era when female physicians were still a novelty to many patients and a challenge to many male colleagues, Connie responded to both with the same strategy: she was simply better prepared than everyone else in the room.

She joined the pediatric practice of Dr. Harold Frankel in 1971 and bought it from him in 1983, running the Connie Abramowitz Pediatric Group until her retirement in 2005. Over 35 years, she treated three generations of children from the same South Philadelphia families, delivered difficult diagnoses with compassion and honesty, and maintained a policy that no child in her practice went without care for inability to pay. She was beloved by her patients' parents and quietly dreaded by her patients, who knew she would give them their shots without warning.

In retirement, Connie traveled to 22 countries, co-wrote a memoir with her sister, Rhoda, that they self-published and distributed to family and friends, and spent Monday afternoons teaching English as a second language at the South Philadelphia Library. She was a member of Congregation Rodeph Shalom, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Philadelphia Women's Medical Society.

Connie is survived by her husband of 58 years, Leonard Abramowitz; her children, Dr. Rachel Abramowitz-Gold (husband Dr. Michael Gold) of Boston, and Daniel Abramowitz (wife Laura Torres-Abramowitz) of Philadelphia; five grandchildren, Hannah, Samuel, Miriam, Lucas, and Isabel; and her sister, Rhoda Rosen-Klein, of Scottsdale, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Estelle Rosen-Bernstein.

Visitation will be held at Joseph Levine & Sons Funeral Home on March 11 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at Congregation Rodeph Shalom on March 12 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at Har Nebo Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the family's home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation in Connie's memory.

48. The Farmer — Leonard Dale Pruett

Leonard Dale Pruett, 78, of Abilene, Texas, passed away February 27, 2026, at his home on the farm where he was born, where he worked for 60 years, and where he wanted to die. Len was born March 14, 1947, the third of five children of Dale and Hettie Pruett, fourth-generation Texans who farmed the same 800 acres that Len's great-grandfather had broken in 1892.

Len graduated from Abilene High School in 1965 and spent one semester at Texas Tech before deciding that the university was teaching him things his grandfather already knew better. He returned to the farm, married Carol Dawson in 1969, and spent the next six decades learning the land the way his forebears had — by watching it closely, failing occasionally, and keeping at it.

He raised cotton, wheat, and cattle over his career, adapting through the drought years of the 1980s, the commodity price collapses of the 1990s, and the shifting seasons that have made farming in West Texas increasingly unpredictable in recent decades. He was known among neighboring farmers for his willingness to share equipment, his judgment about when to plant and when to wait, and his ability to fix almost any piece of machinery with a combination of wire, patience, and language his grandchildren were not supposed to hear.

Len served on the Taylor County Farm Bureau board for 18 years, was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Abilene for 30 years, and coached youth baseball for a decade when his sons were young. He never asked for much and was quietly suspicious of people who did.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol; his sons, Dale Pruett Jr. and Thomas Pruett (wife Jennifer); his daughter, Sharon Pruett-Evans (husband Kenny); seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his brother, Herman Pruett, of Lubbock. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Margie Pruett-Dean; and his son, Gary, in 1998.

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Abilene on March 3 at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church following the committal. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Texas Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

What Makes an Obituary Truly Memorable

In our experience helping families through the memorial planning process, the obituaries that people read more than once — the ones that get printed out and kept in a drawer — share a handful of qualities that have nothing to do with length or literary skill. Bereavement counselors and funeral directors consistently observe the same patterns.

• One specific, unexpected detail. The butterscotch candy jar. The two coffee cups still set out for two every morning after his wife died. The potato salad request. A single specific, true detail does more work than a paragraph of general praise. Ask family members: "What is something about them that most people don't know?"
• The nickname, with its story. If they had a nickname — and most people do — use it. If there is a story behind it, tell it briefly. A nickname is a compression of who the person was among the people who knew them best.
• Something they would recognize about themselves. The best obituaries read as if the person might have smiled reading them. If they had a sense of humor, reflect it. If they were fiercely private, honor that. The tribute should fit the person like a coat that belongs to them, not a borrowed one.
• Write the 'survived by' section with warmth. Most families list survivors mechanically. But this section can carry feeling: "his wife of 44 years, Linda, who he still called his best friend" or "her granddaughter Lily, who she taught to read." One warm phrase per section is enough.
• Avoid obituary clichés. Phrases like "gained her wings," "went to be with the Lord," or "was loved by all" have appeared in so many obituaries that they have lost their meaning. Use language that is specific to this person and this family.
• Let them speak. If the deceased left any written words — letters, emails, texts, a note on the fridge — consider including a brief quote. Their voice in the obituary is the most direct tribute possible.

One thing that consistently surprises families is this: grief counselors generally observe that the process of writing a meaningful obituary — gathering the stories, calling relatives, asking the questions — is often as healing as the document itself. The writing is a form of mourning, and it deserves the care you give it.

For the full step-by-step process, our complete obituary writing guide walks you through every element, including what to include and what to leave out. If you want to see what a truly beautiful tribute looks like, our beautiful obituary examples guide focuses specifically on the craft of writing with emotional depth.

Obituary Examples for an Artist, Musician, or Creative Person

When the person who died was defined by a creative life — a musician, a painter, a writer, a craftsperson — the obituary has an opportunity to go further than most: to describe the work itself, what it meant to the people who experienced it, and what will be missing from the world now that it is no longer being made. These two examples show how.

49. The Musician — Delia Rose Carmichael

Delia Rose Carmichael, 77, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away February 28, 2026. Delia spent 50 years as a session musician at RCA Studio B, playing piano and organ on recordings she was rarely credited for and songs that millions of people know by heart. In the early 1970s, she played on several country albums that reached the top of the Billboard charts, though she was the sort of musician who preferred being the foundation to being the ceiling. "I'm not the voice," she used to say. "I'm the thing that makes the voice land."

In her later years, Delia taught piano from her home in East Nashville to any child whose family could afford lessons and several whose families could not. She believed music was a second language that every child deserved. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Roy Carmichael; her daughters, Patsy Carmichael-Woods and June Carmichael; four grandchildren; and her sister, Louise Hall, of Knoxville. A celebration of Delia's life will be held at the Bluebird Cafe on March 8 at 3:00 PM. All are welcome. Bring an instrument if you have one.

50. The Sculptor — Miguel Angel Restrepo

Miguel Angel Restrepo, 69, of Santa Barbara, California, passed away January 31, 2026, in his studio, which is exactly where his family says he would have wanted to be. Miguel came to the United States from Medellín, Colombia, in 1985 on a fellowship to the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and the life he built from that point was one entirely organized around the work: large-scale bronze sculptures that explore the tension between memory and forgetting, many of which stand in public spaces throughout California and Colombia.

His students at UC Santa Barbara, where he taught for 25 years, remember him as the professor who could look at a half-finished piece and tell you exactly what it was trying to become. He was also a fierce champion of emerging Latin American artists, a condition he considered both a professional obligation and a personal debt to the teachers who had believed in him first.

Miguel is survived by his wife, Elena Restrepo; his children, Sofia Restrepo-Park and Andrés Restrepo; two grandchildren; and his brother, Carlos Restrepo, of Medellín. A public memorial and exhibition of his work will be held at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art on February 15 at 2:00 PM. The family requests donations to the Cranbrook Academy of Art scholarship fund.

Where to Publish an Obituary

Once you have written the obituary, you have more options for publication than most families realize. Funeral directors typically submit to the local newspaper on your behalf, but there are several other venues worth considering, each with different cost structures and audiences.

• Local newspaper. The traditional venue. Costs range from $100 to $800 or more depending on word count and circulation. Major metropolitan papers can charge over $1,000 for a full-length death notice. A short announcement is significantly cheaper than a full obituary.
• Funeral home website. Most funeral homes publish obituaries on their own website at no additional cost as part of their service package. These pages typically allow photos, multiple paragraphs, and condolence comments.
• Legacy.com. The largest obituary aggregation site in the United States. Many newspaper obituaries are automatically published here; some families also post independently.
• Online memorial page. A dedicated digital memorial gives unlimited space for photos, stories, and memories. Unlike a newspaper notice, it can be updated over time — which matters when new memories surface months or years after the loss.
• Social media. Many families share a brief announcement on Facebook or Instagram with a link to the full obituary. This reaches people outside the immediate community who may not see a newspaper or funeral home notice.

If you are also preparing spoken words for the service, our guide on how to write a eulogy walks you through the process of turning memories into a tribute that people will remember. If you are looking for an easier way to draft an initial version, our AI obituary writer can generate a complete first draft from a few basic details about the person you are honoring.