Understanding the major difference between obituaries and a funeral announcement is helpful for families and communities as it can help them communicate news respectfully, clearly and effectively. Although people often think of them are same and have no difference but each one serves a distinct purpose, offering unique ways for communities to come together, share memories, and remember their loved lost one. These notices also help guide anyone attempting an obituary search UK, ensuring information is accessible and accurate.

What is an obituary announcement?  

An obituary announcement is a personalised account of someone’s life, typically written by the family or a funeral director in a more detailed fashion.

It often includes: 

• Milestones of their life 
• Personal achievements and visions 
• Funeral or memorial details for attendees 
• A message of remembrance on their special days 

Obituaries are usually published online, or in newspapers, and on memorial websites like Ownstory. They offer a safe and sensitive space for stories, tributes, and memories making them one of the most meaningful ways for communities to remember their loved ones. 

What are Funeral Announcements? 

A funeral announcement is a shorter, more precise and more practical notice that shares essential details rather than a life story.
It typically only includes: 

• Name of the deceased 

• Date of passing 

• Funeral, burial, or cremation information for attendees 

• Donation or floral guidance 

Unlike a detailed obituary, a funeral announcement focuses on informing the people about the time, date, and location of services so friends and community members can attend or send condolences and can attend the funeral. 

How do obituaries Serve Families who are grieving?

Both obituaries and funeral announcements play a vital role during the entire funeral setup.

Supporting Family Communication quickly

Specially online death notices and announcements help easy communication to families abroad and help families quickly share accurate information, reducing confusion during a difficult time.

Community Support

These notices help people to come together and mainly they get to know about all the necessary details, so that they can come forward in offering condolences, tributes, or help to the grieving families.

Preserving Memories and celebrating their lives.

An obituary provides a long-lasting tribute that can be found through an obituary search UK, and in different platforms which ensures safe sharing and sensitive privacy controls to preserve memorial pages and tributes as well, ensuring future generations can look back on a loved one’s story.

You can create a memorial page for your loved ones in very few simple steps as well. 

Online Funeral Announcement Examples 

Here are some simple online funeral announcement examples which will tell you how exactly an obituary looks like:  

Example:

“Johnathan Smith, aged 84, passed away peacefully on 12 January 2025. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Johnathan will be missed by his kids and grandkids a lot . A celebration of his life will take place at St. Mary’s Church on 20 January at 11am.”

Obituaries vs Funeral Announcements: A Side-By-Side Comparison to choose what fits you best at the moment. 

Purpose and Audience 

Obituaries are written to honour and remember a person’s life. They are meant for a wide audience family, friends, the broader community, and even future generations who may look back on family history. 

Funeral announcements, however, are designed primarily to inform. They are informative toned their goal is to share practical funeral details with those who may want to attend or send condolences. The target audience is usually local or community-based based on the modes of the distribution, like there are online death announcements through various platforms like ownstory.com. 

Emotional Weight vs Informational Need for both. 

Obituaries generally carry emotional depth, and stories in details capturing the essence of a person through personal stories, accomplishments, relationships, and tributes in a safe space. 

Funeral announcements carry practical details and information, focusing on key details such as time, date, venue, and any instructions regarding the ceremony. 

Which one to choose online obituaries or funeral announcements?

When should I choose an online obituary? 

Things to consider when you are choosing to post an online obituary. 

• Honouring a loved one with a meaningful life story 

• Sharing achievements, personal traits, and family history 

• Providing a long-lasting memorial that’s searchable online 

When Should I choose a funeral announcement over an obituary? 

A funeral announcement is better when you need to: 

• Share service details quickly (date, time, place) 

• Share important details in fastest way possible 

• Inform the community about it 

• Keeping it short and very formal. 

Can you use both funeral announcement and obituary together? 

Yes of course many UK families publish both: 

• A funeral announcement for immediate clarity 

• An obituary for long-term remembrance 

This mixed approach ensures timely communication as well as personalised memorial page preservation through an obituary. 

If you are looking for an easy way to create an obituary or a funeral announcement, you can check out our platform for a guided and simple experience. 

FAQs 

1. What is the difference between an obituary and a funeral notice?

An obituary is a longer, tribute that honours a person’s life, achievements, relationships, and legacy. A funeral notice (or funeral announcement) is shorter and focuses on practical details such as the date, time, and location of the service. Obituaries are for storytelling; funeral notices are for immediate information.

2. How do you write a funeral announcement?

A funeral announcement should be simple and clear and Include: 

• Full name of the deceased person. 

• Date of death and any other details 

• Service date, time, and location for the attendees. 

• Any instruction for the people attending. 

3. How long does it normally take between death and the funeral service?

In the UK, funerals typically take place between 1-3 weeks after death. Timing may vary due to: 

• Medical certification or coroner involvement 

• Venue or crematorium availability 

• Religious or cultural practices 

• Family preferences 

• Funeral home scheduling 

Public holidays and busy seasons may extend the wait. 

4. How to write the perfect online obituary? 

A well structured obituary should consist of the following: 

• Start with the important details like (name, age, location, date of death) 

• Share personal highlights and achievements of the person 

• Include family members and loved ones  

• Mention of passions, career, values, or stories 

• Addition of funeral details or donation preferences 

• Maintaining a warm, respectful tone along with a sensitive tone. 

Authenticity and personal storytelling make the biggest impact in an online obituary. 

5. What are the common mistakes in writing obituaries? 

Writing obituaries can be little tricky and the list of common errors include: 

• Misspelling names or dates while adding in details 

• Making the obituary too long or too short for the context 

• Forgetting key information like birthdays  

• Using overly general content and no personalisation. 

• Publishing without proofreading the context and writeup. 

• Excluding clear service details.