Obituary Examples Survived By
Listing family members in an obituary can be challenging, especially with large or blended families. These obituary examples survived by show proper formatting, order, and etiquette for listing spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family members.
Standard Family Structure Example
Example Obituary:
John Michael Smith, 75, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away on March 15, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Smith; his children, Sarah (David) Johnson, Michael (Lisa) Smith, and Jennifer (Mark) Davis; his grandchildren, Emma, Jack, Olivia, and Lucas; his sister, Patricia (Robert) Wilson; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Margaret Smith, and his brother, Thomas Smith.
Formatting Guidelines:
- List spouse first (with years married if significant)
- List children in birth order, with spouses in parentheses
- List grandchildren by name (or count if too many)
- List siblings with their spouses
- Use "numerous" for extended family if the list is long
Large Family Structure Example
Example Obituary:
Margaret Ann Williams, 82, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on April 10, 2024. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert Williams; her children, Patricia (Mark) Johnson, Robert Jr. (Susan) Williams, Elizabeth (David) Martinez, and James (Sarah) Williams; her 12 grandchildren: Michael, Sarah, James, Emily, Daniel, Jessica, Matthew, Olivia, Noah, Ava, Lily, and Ethan; her 5 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Catherine (James) Thompson and Mary (John) Anderson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Anderson, and her brother, James Anderson.
Formatting Guidelines for Large Families:
- List all children with their spouses
- For many grandchildren, list by name or use "12 grandchildren" format
- Include great-grandchildren count if applicable
- Group extended family (siblings, nieces, nephews) together
- Use "numerous" for very large extended families
Blended Family Structure Example
Example Obituary:
Robert James Davis, 65, of Denver, Colorado, passed away on May 20, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Linda Davis; his children from his first marriage, Michael (Sarah) Davis and Jennifer (Mark) Wilson; his stepchildren, David (Lisa) Martinez and Amanda (Tom) Anderson; his grandchildren, Emma, Jack, Olivia, Lucas, and Sophia; his brother, John (Patricia) Davis; and his stepmother, Margaret Davis.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Davis, and his parents, James and Helen Davis.
Formatting Guidelines for Blended Families:
- List current spouse first
- Specify "children from first marriage" if needed for clarity
- List stepchildren separately or together based on family preference
- Include step-parents if they were close
- Be sensitive to family dynamics
Single/No Spouse Example
Example Obituary:
Susan Elizabeth Johnson, 58, of Seattle, Washington, passed away on June 5, 2024. She is survived by her children, Emily (Tom) Wilson and Matthew Johnson; her grandchildren, Lily and Noah; her parents, Robert and Patricia Smith; her siblings, Jennifer (Mark) Davis and Michael (Sarah) Smith; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Mary Anderson.
Formatting Guidelines for Single/No Spouse:
- Start with children if applicable
- List parents if still living
- List siblings with their spouses
- Include other close family members
- Focus on immediate family relationships
Short Format Example
Example Obituary:
James Patrick O'Connor, 70, of Boston, Massachusetts, passed away on July 15, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his children, Patrick, Meghan, and Sean; his 4 grandchildren; his brothers, Michael and John; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Helen O'Connor.
Short Format Guidelines:
- Use first names only for children
- Use counts for grandchildren (e.g., "4 grandchildren")
- Simplify extended family listings
- Keep it concise for newspaper or short obituaries
General Rules for Listing Family in Obituaries
- Order matters: Spouse → Children → Grandchildren → Parents → Siblings → Extended family
- Use proper titles: "Survived by" for living family, "Preceded in death by" for deceased
- Include spouses: List children's spouses in parentheses (e.g., "Sarah (David) Johnson")
- Be consistent: Use the same format throughout (full names vs. first names)
- Consider space: For newspaper obituaries, use shorter formats; for online or programs, you can be more detailed
- Be sensitive: Handle blended families, divorces, and complex relationships with care
- Verify names: Double-check spelling of all names before publication