6 Sample Obituaries for Fathers, Grandpas & Step-Dads | Cake Blog (2024)

If you’ve never written an obituary before, writing one for your father, grandfather, or step-father can feel overwhelming. After all, it's your opportunity to announce his death and to pay tribute to the life he lived. But what should you say and how much information do you include?

Jump ahead to these sections:

• What Information Should Be in an Obituary for a Father?
• Steps for Writing an Obituary for a Father
• Obituary Examples for a Father
• Where Can You Share an Obituary for a Father?

If you need some guidance in writing a father's obituary, you're in the right place. We'll provide helpful tips, step-by-step instructions, and practical examples to get you started. Keep reading to learn how to write an impactful obituary for your father.

What to Include in an Obituary for a Father, Grandpa or Step-Dad

Obituaries are the most well-known method used to announce a death. They also pay tribute to a life well lived.

The typical obituary follows a standard format and contains basic information about the person in addition to facts about their life. These are the essential details you'll want to include in an obituary for a father or any other family member:

• The deceased’s full name (including middle name or initial, maiden name, and nickname)
• The date and place of death
• The cause of death (if you choose to share that information)
• Birthdate and birthplace
• Names of parents, siblings, spouses/partners, and children

Consider including other notable details as well. Biographical details such as education, accolades, and military service are appropriate to add, if space allows.

Still not sure how to write an obituary for your father? Check out the examples below:

Tip: If you need help prioritizing other post-death details, check out our post-loss checklist.

Steps for Writing an Obituary for a Father, Grandpa or Step-Dad

The ability to write an obituary is not a skill that most people inherently possess. If you don’t know where to begin the process, that’s okay! We’ve broken it down into some simple steps that you can follow.

Step 1: Start with a death announcement

Most obituaries start with an announcement of the person's death. This helps to set the tone and provides some information about the circ*mstance. It should only take up one to two sentences.

You'll want to include information such as their name, date of death, and circ*mstance, if applicable.

Example: Bob Jones passed away on October 1, 2022, with his friends and family by his side.

Step 2: Add a short biography

Due to space limitations, the biography should likely be around three to four sentences. Include basics about their birth, where they grew up, any notable college mentions, and what they did for a living.

Example: Bob was born on September 24, 1950, to Todd and Leona Edwards. He grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and graduated from U of Penn with a degree in psychology. In 1971, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Jacobs, and they had one child, Brittany. Bob worked as a professional counselor until he retired and served in lay counseling positions in his church.

Step 3: Add interesting personal details

If you have the space, add some personal details to the biography section. This is the chance to dive a bit deeper into the story of their life. Weave in some anecdotes about them, or include more personal information that really captures their spirit.

Keep in mind that obituaries are typically meant to be short and sweet. While they can be as long as 450 words, on average they tend to clock in at around 200 words. If you plan to publish the obituary in your local paper, you'll need to ask if there are any word count restrictions.

Example: Bob's career in counseling took him around the world as he helped military families adjust to the rigors of military life. He loved getting to help people while seeing new places and taking his family along for the ride. In 2001, he was given a lifetime achievement award from the American Counseling Association.

Step 4: Include family information

This is the section where you want to state who the person is survived by and pre-deceased by. It should include immediate family members, in addition to family members who were particularly close.

Example: Bob Jones is survived by his wife, Barbara Jones, daughter, Brittany Johnes, brother Edward Jones, and sister Jane (Jones) Hadley.

Step 5: End with funeral arrangements

Wrap up the obituary by including details about when the funeral, celebration-of-life service, or memorial service is held.

If the funeral is open to the public, make sure the obituary contains the ceremony's date, time, and location. If the service is restricted to a private guest list, you can say so directly or just omit any mention of a funeral at all.

Example: A funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church, Lancaster, at 2 p.m. on October 5, 2022. Visitation begins at 12 noon. All are welcome to attend.

Obituary Examples for a Father, Grandpa, or Step-Dad

Now that you know the steps involved, you can start writing the obituary. Still not sure how to get started? Here are some complete examples designed to provide you with further guidance and inspiration.

1. Obituary for a father

Daren James Cooper passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2018, at his home in New Jersey.

Born in 1948, he grew up listening to the New York Giants games on the radio and dreaming of one day joining the team. After high school, he got to fulfill that wish as an A-list draft pick. He married Stephanie Jacobs in 1968 and they had two children, Rosie and Daren Jr. He eventually left the world of baseball and became a successful entrepreneur and community leader.

Daren is survived by Rosie Cooper and Daren Jr. Cooper. He was predeceased by his wife, Stephanie Cooper; his mother, Janelle Cooper; his father, Dane Cooper; and his grandparents on both sides.

A celebration of life service will be held in his honor, time and date to be announced.

2. Obituary for a father who died too young

Christopher Bradley passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2019, after a brief battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 37.

Chris was born on May 16, 1982, in Denver, Colorado.An enthusiastic traveler, Chris visited all fifty states and backpacked through Western Europe. Chris married Emily Grace Williamson, his high school sweetheart and they welcomed daughter Rosaline Ava Bradley.

In addition to Emily and Rosaline, Chris is survived by his father and mother, Walter Allen Bradley and Kimberly Yvonne Bradley, as well as his sister Sarah Elizabeth Bradley. He was predeceased by his brother, Jason Joseph Bradley.

The funeral service will be at Cook and Sons Funeral Home, 4321 Main Street, Denver, Colorado, on Friday, October 25, 2019, at 2 pm. Visitation will begin at noon. The family will be there to welcome friends and relatives.

Obituary for a father who battled a long illness

Paul Thomas Carter, age 62, passed away at the Brooklyn Hospital on April 2, 2020, from complications of a life-long battle with asthma.

Paul was born in Brooklyn on December 24th, 1950, and spent much of his young years in the hospital due to underdeveloped lungs. He eventually turned his rich inner life into a career as a children's author. Paul was loved by children of all ages for his stories that sparked the imagination and created a sense of awe and wonder.

Paul married Stephanie Owens, and together they adopted Michael Brett Carter. In addition to his own child, he considered every youngster who loved his stories to be part of his family.

A private funeral will be held at the Brooklyn Cemetery.

Obituary for a father who died unexpectedly

On Wednesday, October 9, 2019, the Harkness family lost their hero. Noah Sullivan “Sully” Harkness lost his life in an attempt to rescue a local family from a fire that engulfed their home.

Sully was born in Ellsworth on August 6th, 1991. From early on, he fell in love with the idea of becoming a firefighter and made that his aim in life. He fulfilled that goal and served for 20 years, doing what he loved.

Sully is survived by his father Mark Brian Harkness; his wife Amanda Ava Harkness; and his daughters Zoe Savannah Harkness and Skylar Brianna Harkness. He is predeceased by his mother Crystal Lee Harkness.

Friends and members of the community are invited to join the Harkness family on Saturday, October 19, 2019, at 5 pm for a celebration of life service at Maple Oak Funeral Home on 8642 Main Street in Ellsworth.

Obituary for a step-father

On Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019, Demetrius Malik Smith was called home at the age of 47. The world has lost a great son, brother, husband, father, and leader.

If you asked Demetrius, his greatest accomplishment wasn’t his football legacy or his career. It was being a father. When Demetrius met his wife Claudia Denise Marquez, it was love at first sight. That love grew to include Claudia’s young daughter Sasha. Sasha called Demetrius her bonus dad and formally took his last name when she turned eighteen.

Demetrius is survived by his mother Coretta, brother Derrick, wife Claudia, and daughter Sasha. He was preceded in death by his father Marvin Ronald Smith. Join Demetrius’ family for a homegoing service on Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at 11 am. The service will be held at Zion AME Church in Tallahassee, FL at 2468 Bethel Avenue.

Obituary for a father-in-law

On Monday, October 10, 2019, James Michael O'Leary bid a fond farewell to those he loved.

James was born on July 14, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio. Orphaned at a young age, he spent many of his formative years in orphanages. As a teenager, he turned to factory work to make a living. In his early twenties, he fell in love with Kathleen Rose Murphy, a seamstress. The two married and welcomed their son Patrick Francis O’Leary to the world in 1974.

James Michael O’Leary is survived by his daughter-in-law Sarah Norman O’Leary; his granddaughters Hannah Olivia O’Leary and Ashley Elizabeth O’Leary; and countless extended family and found family members. All held him in the highest regard and loved him dearly.

You are welcome to join the O'Leary family on Saturday, October 12th, 2019, at 11 a.m. for a green burial at the Foxfield Preserve located at 9887 Alabama Ave. SW in Wilmot, Ohio, 44689.

Obituary for a grandfather

Albert William March of York, Nebraska passed away peacefully on Monday, October 14, 2019, at the age of 96.

Albert was born in York on March 6, 1923, to father Charles Thomas March and mother Lillian Louise March. He enlisted in the Army at age 18 and was stationed in Nice, France from 1943-1945. At the end of the war, Albert returned to York and helped grow the family business. He met local schoolteacher Myra Jean Kelly and married in 1954.

Albert was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers Samuel James March and Donald Richard March. He is survived by his wife Myra Jean March; children Gary Stephen March and Pamela Dawn Anthony; grandchildren Heather Nicole March, John Joseph March, and Ryan William Anthony; and great-granddaughter Willow Jane Anthony.

A visitation for Albert is planned for Saturday, October 19, 2019, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Spencer Funeral Home on 1234 Main Street, York, Nebraska. All are invited to attend. The funeral will follow immediately at 3 pm.

Obituary for a father figure

Thomas Lee Hardy passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2017, surrounded by his family and friends.

Thomas was born on August 5, 1960, to Lillian Ann Hardy, who passed away shortly after his birth. He was raised by his grandfather, Gabriel Hardy. Growing up, he showed tremendous love and talent for football. After playing in college and professionally, he served for 35 years as head football coach at Rosemond High School.

Coach T was loved by all of his boys, many of whom considered him to be just like a father. For some, he was the father they never had. His loss will be felt deeply by his family, friends, and the community of Rosemond, Georgia.

A memorial service will be held in the Rosemond High School stadium on Saturday, July 20, 2017, and is open to all.

Where Can You Share an Obituary for a Father?

Now that you’ve written an obituary for a father figure in your life, it’s time to distribute it. Here is a short list of places where people may expect to see an obituary:

Newspapers

Traditionally, newspapers have always been the primary destination for publishing obituaries. Most newspapers still have a dedicated obituary page or section. Generally speaking, you will contact the local newspaper in your area about publishing an obituary. If the deceased split their time between two locations (for example, a snowbird who lives in Michigan for most of the year but spends winters in Florida), you can contact the paper in each area.

Online memorial sites

As technology has evolved, so have social conventions. Now that the internet has become more accessible, obituaries have started moving online instead of or in addition to newspapers.

Several websites offer a space for people to post online memorials. Here at Cake, we’ve established a service that will enable people to create beautiful memorial websites without requiring a ton of technical expertise. You can post an obituary, a photograph of the deceased, funeral details, and more. We are happy to offer this service at no cost.

Funeral home website

When people die, events like memorial services and burials are often coordinated through a funeral home. Many funeral homes have gotten on board with technology, too. Many funeral homes will publish obituaries on their website or even help facilitate online memorial pages like those referenced above. Speak to the funeral director to find out if that’s a service they provide.

Social media

It used to be that people's social circles were restricted mainly to the area where they lived. Now that social media has become such a significant aspect of our daily lives, we can build close friendships with people from all over the world.

Most social media platforms have policies in place to handle accounts after users have died. They will typically work with either an immediate family member or the estate's executor. Some platforms like X (previously Twitter) will deactivate the account.

Platforms like Facebook will allow you to switch the account to memorial status, so people can still leave messages to their late loved one and connect with other mourners. In cases like the latter, you can post the deceased's obituary on their page so that friends farther away can be kept in the loop.

Obituaries for Father Figures

A human life is a collection of stories. The obituary serves as a final telling of some of those stories. If you don’t know as much as you think you should about their lives, there’s no time like the present to begin learning.