Let your voice come through
Choose whether you sound warm, funny, matter-of-fact, or a little of each. It does not need to sound like a formal biography.
Practical guide
How to Write Your Own Obituary
You can leave more than a list of dates and achievements. Here is a simple way to put your story in your own words, with room for the people and moments that matter to you.
Should you write your own obituary?
You do not have to. Some people choose to do it so loved ones have their perspective, a few favorite stories, and a starting point instead of having to remember every detail themselves. A draft can change as your life changes.
Leave helpful context
Write down names, relationships, places, and stories that someone else might not know how to put into words.
What is commonly included?
Pick the details you want to share; no checklist is mandatory. Leave time-sensitive facts, such as a date of death or service information, for someone to add later if appropriate.
Identity and places
Your preferred name, places that shaped you, and a few life chapters you would like people to remember.
Relationships
The people and communities important to you, described in the way you would want them recognized.
Work and accomplishments
Jobs, service, projects, or small everyday contributions that meant something to you, without needing to list every title.
Personality and values
Habits, humor, passions, beliefs, and the values behind your choices. A favorite ordinary moment can say more than a résumé.
Make it sound like you
Think of one story that shows how you treated people, one detail someone would instantly recognize, and one thing you hope others carry forward. Instead of “I loved my family,” you might describe the Sunday meal you always made together. Short, specific memories make room for personality without turning the obituary into a résumé.
Consider the small stories
A shared joke, a garden tended for years, the way you greeted a neighbor, or a place you returned to can reveal what mattered most.
Choose your own emphasis
You can give more space to relationships, creativity, work, faith, friendships, care for others, or the quiet routines you loved.
What can you leave out? Anything you do not want made public: a complete work history, complicated family details, private health information, or a story that belongs to someone else. Avoid home addresses, exact birth dates, account details, passwords, and other security facts in a public obituary. Ask permission before including sensitive details about living people.
Follow the five parts of My Obituary
These are the same five sections used in the Be Sure They Know wizard. You can also use these prompts on paper. In the wizard, only your full name is required; the other answers are optional.
Begin with your full name, date of birth, and where you were born. There is also an optional prompt for how you would like your passing described. Leave it blank if you prefer; any wording written in advance should be checked for accuracy before publication.
Describe your early life and education: where you grew up, what shaped those years, and any schools or learning experiences you want included.
Write about your career and work, your passions and interests, and who you are as a person. Everyday stories can show your character more clearly than a list of job titles.
Name who you leave behind and who went before you, with the relationships you want recognized. Include the people important to you; skip details you do not want to share.
Reflect on your achievements and legacy, then add a closing note. That might be a favorite quote, a wish for the people you love, or a simple goodbye.
A template that follows the wizard
The same prompts work outside the app, too. These third-person sentence starters show how your answers might read in a traditional obituary. Skip anything that does not fit.
Gather your answers in the same order
- The basics: “[Full name] was born [optional date] in [optional place].” Leave any description of passing blank unless you want to draft wording for later review.
- Early life: “[Name] grew up [place or experience] and studied [education or learning you wish to mention].”
- Life & character: “[Name] worked [career or contribution], loved [passions], and was known for [character or a small story that shows it].”
- Background: “[Name] is survived by [names and relationships] and was preceded in death by [names and relationships].” Include either, both, or neither; check these details before publication.
- Closing words: “[Name]'s proudest contributions included [achievements or legacy]. [Closing note, quote, or wish].”
Three short, fictional examples
These original excerpts illustrate answers for the wizard's sections, not complete obituaries or automatic wizard output. They use third person, as a traditional obituary does, while keeping the person's own memories and meaning.
Early life
“Lena grew up above a small bakery, learning that a kitchen table could always hold one more person. She later studied education and carried that welcome into her classroom.”
Life & character
“Ellis worked as a carpenter and planted sunflowers along the fence every spring, even when the first seeds failed. Patient with both plants and people, Ellis made the garden a gathering place for neighbors.”
Closing words
“Noor was proudest of helping new cyclists find their confidence. The neighborhood repair sessions were a lasting contribution, but Noor's closing wish was simple: ‘Be a patient teacher. Everyone starts somewhere.’”
Keep your words with what else matters
Be Sure They Know includes My Obituary, a guided way to draft your own obituary in your own words and keep it with the rest of the information and personal knowledge you choose to preserve.
Type, record audio, or record video
Prefer to talk through your memories? The wizard's longer-answer prompts let you record audio or video, play it back, and use the transcription option to turn your spoken words into text. Review and edit the transcript before using it in your written obituary draft. You can also type your answers directly.
After the five sections, the wizard assembles your answers into an editable draft. Review the wording and point of view, edit it yourself or use AI assist to refine it, and choose your sharing settings in My Go Team. Select Save to My Stories to keep it as a story entry, where you can find, edit, or delete it later. Saving a draft does not publish an obituary notice.
You can use the framework above without an account. An obituary is not a will or legal document, and it does not replace one.
Questions about writing your own obituary
Do I need to write my own obituary?
No. It is a personal choice. A draft can help others understand which stories, relationships, and details you would like them to remember, but it is fine not to write one.
How long should a self-written obituary be?
There is no required length. Start with a short opening, a few meaningful details, and a closing thought. Someone can adapt the draft for a publication's space requirements later.
What should I avoid putting in an obituary?
Leave out private security information, home addresses, exact birth dates, and details you do not want published. Ask permission before sharing sensitive information about living people.
Is an obituary the same as a will?
No. An obituary is a personal account of a life. It is not a will or legal document and cannot replace formal legal planning.
Related Resources
Start with the words that sound like you.
Begin with one memory or detail, and build from there.
Start freeEssentials is free, but does not include My Obituary. The guided My Obituary feature requires Pro Plus.