Your grandfather held a version of your family's story that nobody else did. The years before your parents were born. The world as it was when he was young. The person he became across decades you never witnessed. Writing his obituary is a chance to capture some of that — imperfectly, inevitably, but honestly.
This guide walks you through how to do it, with sample wording you can adapt. If you'd prefer to be guided through the process rather than start from a blank page, the Memories Obituary Writer uses AI-assisted prompts to produce a personalised first draft you can shape into something that sounds like it was written by someone who knew him.
What should you include in a grandfather's obituary?
A grandfather's obituary typically covers the key facts of his life, a brief biography, the names of his family, and the details of the service. Beyond that, the best obituaries include at least one specific detail that makes the person recognisable — a habit, a phrase, something small that captures something large about who he was.
The core elements:
Full name and any nicknames
Date and place of birth
Date and place of passing
Partner's name, and whether she preceded him in death
Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
A brief biography
Service details
A closing personal message
Step 1 — Gather the facts first
Before you write a word, collect the essential information. Full name — including middle name if he used it. Dates and places of birth and death. The names of immediate family, with correct spelling. Check everything twice. These details will be copied directly into newspapers and public records, and errors are hard to correct once published.
Sample opening:
[Full name], loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away [peacefully / suddenly] on [date] at the age of [age]. Born in [place] on [date of birth], [first name] spent most of his life in [place of residence], where he built a life defined by [quality — e.g. hard work, quiet generosity, a deep love of family].
Step 2 — Write his biography
A grandfather's life usually spans a great deal of history — wars, social change, technological transformation. His biography doesn't need to cover all of it. It needs to cover the chapters that shaped him and the qualities that defined how he showed up for the people around him.
Think about: where he grew up and what that world was like. How he came to the work he did and what it meant to him. The relationship with your grandmother, and what their life together looked like. The kind of grandfather he was — what he taught, what he gave, what he cared about.
Sample biography paragraph:
[Name] grew up in [place] during [era], the [oldest/youngest/middle] of [number] children, and carried the values of that upbringing throughout his life. He served [in the military / worked as / studied] before settling in [place], where he met and married the love of his life, [name], in [year]. Together they raised [number] children and built a home that was always open — to family, to friends, and to anyone who needed a meal and a place to sit.
Outside of [work/family], [name] was most himself when [activity — fishing, working in the shed, watching the football, gardening, telling stories]. Those who loved him will recognise the image immediately.
Step 3 — Name his family
Sample wording — survivors:
[Name] is survived by his [wife/partner], [name]; his children, [names]; his grandchildren, [names]; and his great-grandchildren, [names]. He was preceded in death by [relationship], [name].
If the family is large, it's common to name immediate family and use "many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews" for the wider circle.
Step 4 — Include the service details
Sample wording:
A [funeral service / celebration of life / memorial service] will be held on [day], [date], at [time], at [venue, address]. Family and friends are warmly welcomed. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to [charity] at [website].
If the service has already taken place, note that a private service was held and the family is grateful for the outpouring of love and support.
Step 5 — Close with something true
The closing lines are what people remember. They don't need to be eloquent. They need to be honest.
Sample closing lines:
[Name] had a particular gift for [quality — making people feel at ease / finding the funny side of things / showing up without being asked]. He will be deeply missed by everyone who had the good fortune of knowing him.
Those who loved [name] will carry him forward in [the stories he told / the values he passed on / the way he laughed / the things he taught them]. That is its own kind of permanence.
The family takes comfort in knowing that [name]'s [quality] will live on in the people he loved so well — and in the grandchildren he was so proud of.
How long should a grandfather's obituary be?
For a newspaper, 200–300 words is a practical target. For an online memorial or funeral home website, 400–600 words gives you room to do justice to a long life. A grandfather who lived into his eighties or nineties has earned a little more space than a single paragraph.
Getting help with the writing
The Memories Obituary Writer guides you through the process with structured prompts — asking about your grandfather's life, his relationships, his character, and the things he was known for — and produces a first draft to work from and make your own.
Once written, the obituary flows automatically into the Memories Online Memory Book, where it lives alongside photos, the tribute video, and messages from the family and friends who loved him.
More obituary guides
How to write an obituary — the complete step-by-step guide
The Memories Obituary Writer guides you through writing your grandfather's obituary — step by step, in your own words. Start for free — no credit card required.
