Obituary Examples for a Friend

You might include your friend's full name, age, date of passing, family details and important moments from their life, where these are known to you. You can also share their interests, personal qualities, achievements and memories that reflect the friendship you shared. Personal details about the things you enjoyed together or the qualities you valued in them can help readers understand who they were and what made your friendship special. You don't need to include every part of their life — focus on what feels most important to remember and share.

Yes. If you need help writing an obituary, you don't have to work everything out by yourself. With our Obituary Draft service, you share the key details and memories you have, and a real person shapes them into a clear, respectful first draft, ready for you to personalise. Your draft also includes Personalisation Guidance tailored to the information you've shared, helping you make any final adjustments in your own words.

An obituary usually follows a clear structure rather than a strict format. You might begin by introducing your friend and sharing the key details of their passing, then describe important parts of their life, interests, personal qualities and relationships. Include a few memories or details that capture the person you knew and the friendship you shared, before finishing with service information or a closing message. The aim is to bring the essential information and personal details together in a way that feels natural and respectful.

You can start an obituary by introducing your friend by name, followed by their age and date of passing, if you wish to include them. Another approach is to begin with a short sentence that captures something distinctive about their character or what their friendship meant to you. A simple, respectful opening is enough — you don't need to find elaborate words before you begin. You can develop the more personal memories as the obituary continues.

The length depends on where the obituary will be published and how much you would like to share. A short notice might be around 80–120 words, while a fuller obituary may be approximately 150–300 words or longer. Newspapers and funeral homes may have their own word limits or publication costs, so it's worth checking before you begin. Choose a length that gives you enough space for the essential details, personal qualities and memories you want to share, without feeling that you must cover every part of their life.

An obituary can end with funeral or memorial service details, donation preferences or a short closing message. You might also include a final reflection on how your friend will be remembered, what their friendship meant to you or the difference they made to those who knew them. The ending doesn't need to be elaborate — a few sincere words can bring the obituary to a thoughtful close.