Obituary vs eulogy vs death notice: what's the difference?
An obituary is a written life story published for the public. A eulogy is a speech given at the funeral. A death notice is a short paid announcement of the death and the service. They often share facts but are written for different moments.
Facts checked at the sources on October 23, 2026.
Side by side
| Obituary | Eulogy | Death notice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A written life story | A spoken tribute | A short announcement |
| Where | Newspaper, funeral home site, online | At the funeral or memorial | Newspaper classifieds, online |
| Who writes it | Usually family | Family, a friend or clergy | Family or the funeral home |
| Length | 200 to 450 words | 5 to 10 minutes spoken | 50 to 100 words |
| Tone | Third person, warm | First person, personal | Facts only |
| Includes | Life story, family, service | Stories and memories | Name, date, service |
The obituary
The obituary tells readers who died and who they were: their life, their family and how to attend the service. It is written in the third person and is meant to be found later, by old friends and by grandchildren decades from now. See how to write an obituary.
The eulogy
The eulogy is spoken, so it can be more personal than an obituary: "I" and "we", stories that need a pause, a joke that only works out loud. It doesn't need to list every relative or date. Many people start from the obituary and keep only the stories.
The death notice
A death notice is the short, paid announcement in a newspaper: name, age, town, date of death and service details. Because papers charge by the line, many families print a death notice and put the full obituary online. See short obituary examples.
MILLER, Doris Ann, 87, of Springfield, died October 9, 2026. Services Saturday at 11 a.m., First Lutheran Church. Full obituary at obituaryus.org.
And two more: the epitaph and the program
- An epitaph is the short line carved on a headstone, often a verse or a phrase. Our quote library has public-domain lines that work well.
- A funeral program is the printed handout at the service: order of service, a short obituary, photos, and often a poem. On ObituaryUS you can print one from the obituary.
Write it with us, free
Answer a few questions and ObituaryUS sets your words in a clean, printed-page layout you can share, print and keep. No fees, no ads on the page.
Questions families ask
Can the obituary be read as the eulogy?
It can, but it usually sounds stiff out loud. Keep the stories, drop the lists of relatives and dates, and speak in your own voice.
Do I need both an obituary and a death notice?
No. Many families publish one obituary online and print a short death notice only if the local paper matters to their community.
Who usually gives the eulogy?
A close family member or friend, or clergy who knew the person. Sometimes several people each speak for a few minutes.