Customs and traditions for placing and writing an obituary notice may vary depending on your religious affiliation, ethnic background or even regionally. You may find it beneficial to look at an obituary notice in your local newspaper to get a better idea of how an obituary notice from your area is written and presented.
Here is a general guideline to help you write an obituary.
Paragraph I - give full name, age, date-of-death and place-of-death.
Paragraph II - list family and any predeceased relatives.
Paragraph III - write about their former employer(s), military service, memberships, etc. You may also want to tell of some of their accomplishments or great passions.
Paragraph IV - give accurate information regarding visitation times, funeral services, memorials, mass services etc.
In the final paragraph, mention any charities or memorial funds for which you wish people to make donations. You might also want to mention any people or groups that you wish to thank publicly for care given to the deceased. You could also include special poems or prayers.