Creating a meaningful obituary can feel overwhelming during grief. Our comprehensive guide provides expert tips, complete examples, and compassionate support for every step of the writing process.
Follow our proven three-step process to write a meaningful obituary that honors your loved one
Collect photos, important dates, and meaningful stories from family and friends. Take your time - this is a collaborative process.
Use our templates, examples, and tips to tell their unique story. Choose a style that fits their personality.
Publish the memorial online and invite family, friends, and community to share their memories and condolences.
Writing an obituary while grieving is challenging. Here's what you need to know to take care of yourself during this process.
Writing about someone you've lost can bring up powerful emotions. This is completely normal and expected.
Collaborative writing can ease the burden and create a more complete tribute.
Many people find that writing helps them process grief and celebrate their loved one's life.
Sometimes grief is too heavy to carry alone. Consider reaching out if you're experiencing:
Incorporate meaningful Jewish customs, phrases, and values into your loved one's memorial
Include Hebrew name: "[English name] ([Hebrew name] ben/bat [Parent's Hebrew name])"
Common blessings:
Core values to mention:
Include affiliations:
See different writing styles in action - from traditional to celebratory, find the approach that honors your loved one best
Sarah Rebecca (Goldstein) Cohen, 87, of Highland Park, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Brooklyn on June 3, 1936, to the late David and Miriam Goldstein, Sarah was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of her community.
Sarah graduated from Brooklyn College in 1957 with a degree in Education and dedicated 35 years to teaching elementary school in the Chicago Public Schools system. Her passion for nurturing young minds touched countless lives, and many former students credit her with inspiring their love of learning.
She married her beloved husband, Rabbi Jacob Cohen, in 1958, and together they raised four children while actively serving their synagogue community. Sarah was known for her legendary challah, her commitment to social justice, and her warm hospitality that made everyone feel like family.
Sarah is survived by her husband of 65 years, Rabbi Jacob Cohen; her children, Dr. Michael Cohen (Linda) of Skokie, Rachel Bernstein (David) of Evanston, Deborah Katz (Jonathan) of Jerusalem, and Joshua Cohen (Amy) of Highland Park; 12 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, Samuel Goldstein.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on March 17, 2024, at Congregation Beth Israel. Shiva will be observed at the Cohen residence. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago.
Our beloved Benny left us far too soon on January 10, 2024, at age 54, but not before filling our lives with laughter, music, and countless memories we'll treasure forever.
Benny was born in Philadelphia and grew up with a guitar in his hands and a joke on his lips. Anyone who knew him will tell you - he could light up a room with his infectious smile and make friends with absolutely anyone. His favorite saying was 'Life's too short for bad coffee or boring conversations,' and he lived by those words every single day.
He spent 25 years running Rosenberg's Deli, where he knew every customer's name, their usual order, and probably their entire life story. The deli wasn't just a business to Benny - it was his stage, his therapy couch, and his way of taking care of people through food and friendship.
Benny loved hiking, playing blues guitar (badly, he'd admit with a grin), rooting for the Phillies even in their worst seasons, and cooking his famous brisket that could bring world peace if given the chance. He was proudest of his three kids, who inherited his sense of humor, his love of music, and unfortunately, his inability to carry a tune.
He leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Susan; his children Emily, Jake, and Sophie; his granddaughter Lily who was the absolute light of his life; his sister Ruth; and a deli full of people who loved him like family.
A celebration of life will be held at the deli on Sunday at 2 PM - bring your stories, your appetite, and your best Benny impression. In lieu of flowers, order the pastrami on rye and remember to tip generously.
Dr. Rachel Levin, 72, renowned cardiologist and humanitarian, passed away on December 5, 2023, after a brief illness.
Born in Tel Aviv and educated at Hebrew University and Johns Hopkins Medical School, Dr. Levin dedicated her career to advancing cardiac care and training the next generation of physicians. She served as Chief of Cardiology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 20 years.
Dr. Levin's pioneering research in women's heart health saved countless lives and earned her numerous accolades, including the American Heart Association's Distinguished Scientist Award. Yet those who knew her best will remember her compassion, her mentorship, and her unwavering commitment to patients regardless of their ability to pay.
She is survived by her partner of 40 years, Dr. Janet Morrison; her brother David Levin of Haifa; and generations of grateful students and patients.
A memorial service will be held on December 10 at 11 AM at Temple Sholom. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Dr. Rachel Levin Scholarship Fund for Medical Students.
Every Friday afternoon, Moe Katz could be found at the same diner booth, reading the paper, drinking too much coffee, and solving the world's problems with whoever stopped by to chat. On February 22, 2024, that booth sat empty for the first time in 40 years. Moe was 89.
His story began in a small shtetl in Poland, though he never talked much about those early years. What he did talk about was coming to America at 16 with $20 in his pocket and a fierce determination to build a life. He worked in a garment factory by day and went to night school, eventually opening Katz Brothers Tailoring with his late brother Samuel.
Moe believed that every suit told a story - first dates, job interviews, weddings. He took pride in making people feel confident and cared for. When big box stores came to town, he adapted, offering alterations and building relationships that lasted decades.
He met his wife Esther at a USO dance in 1957. She thought he was the worst dancer she'd ever seen but loved that he tried anyway. They were married 58 years before she passed in 2015. Moe never quite recovered from losing her, but he kept showing up - for his kids, his grandkids, his Friday coffee, and his community.
Moe is survived by his children Alan and Barbara; five grandchildren who adored their 'Zayde'; his tailoring shop that his grandson will continue; and a community that won't be the same without him.
Services at Mount Sinai Cemetery, Sunday 1 PM. Donations to the Holocaust Memorial Museum would honor his memory.
Miriam Shapiro didn't just live life - she danced through it, laughed at it, painted it in bold colors, and invited everyone to join the party. On April 3, 2024, at 79, she took her final bow, leaving us all wishing for one more dance.
Mimi was an artist, a teacher, a terrible cook (she'd be the first to tell you), a world traveler, and a force of nature wrapped in bright scarves and jangling bracelets. She believed that life was too precious for matching socks, boring conversations, or saying no to adventure.
She taught art to three generations of students at the JCC, turning her classroom into a place where creativity and confidence bloomed. Her own artwork - vibrant, bold, unapologetically joyful - hangs in homes and hearts across three continents.
Mimi traveled to 47 countries, often solo, collecting stories, friends, and absolutely no inhibitions about dancing in the streets. She marched for civil rights, protested injustice, and never stopped believing the world could be better. Her activism was as colorful as her paintings.
She leaves behind her daughter Lisa (who inherited the dancing, not the cooking), her son Daniel (who got both), six grandchildren who she taught to see the world in technicolor, her art studio full of unfinished masterpieces, and a community that will never be quite as colorful without her.
Join us for a celebration of life on April 8 at 3 PM at the JCC - wear something bright, bring your stories, and please, for Mimi's sake, dance. Memorial donations to the JCC Art Program will keep her legacy alive.
Our platform offers powerful tools to create a living, lasting tribute
Upload unlimited photos and videos to create a visual celebration of their life
Friends and family can light virtual memorial candles with personal messages
Community members can share stories, condolences, and memories
Automatic email reminders for anniversaries and Jewish memorial dates
Learn from others' experiences - here's what to watch out for when writing
The mistake: Forgetting to mention stepchildren, close friends, or longtime partners.
How to avoid it: Create a list of all family members and close relationships before you start writing. Ask others to review for anyone missed.
The mistake: Vague or missing information about funeral, shiva, or memorial services.
How to avoid it: Include specific dates, times, locations, and addresses. Note if services are private or open to community.
The mistake: Using cliches like "loved by all" without specific examples of their personality.
How to avoid it: Include specific details - their laugh, their famous brisket recipe, their terrible puns, their garden full of roses.
The mistake: Wrong dates, misspelled names, incorrect locations - these become permanent records.
How to avoid it: Double-check all facts. Have multiple family members review. Verify dates from official documents.
Comprehensive answers to common questions about writing, publishing, and honoring loved ones
Real experiences from families who used our platform during their time of loss
"Writing my father's obituary felt impossible while grieving. The templates and examples here gave me a structure to work with, and being able to edit it later when I thought of more details was such a relief. This made the hardest week of my life a little more manageable."
Rebecca L.
Chicago, IL
"The guidance on including Jewish traditions was invaluable. We wanted to honor Mom's Hebrew name and include appropriate blessings, but weren't sure how. The examples showed us exactly what to do. The memorial page has become a place where our whole community shares memories."
David & Sarah K.
New York, NY
"I was worried about writing my grandfather's obituary because I didn't know him well as a child. The advice about reaching out to others for stories was perfect. I collected beautiful memories from his friends and created a tribute that captured who he really was."
Michael R.
Los Angeles, CA
Explore more guides and support for navigating loss and honoring memories
Professional resources and counseling services for coping with loss
Learn about shiva, yahrzeit, kaddish, and other Jewish mourning customs
Guidance for organizing funeral, memorial, and shiva arrangements
Speak with our compassionate team for one-on-one writing assistance
You have everything you need to create a beautiful, meaningful tribute. Our tools are free, our support is here for you, and your loved one's legacy awaits.
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