When a loved one chooses whole-body donation, families may face a few questions that do not come up with a traditional funeral. One of the most common is how to write an obituary when there is no immediate funeral date and cremated remains may not be available right away.
The good news is that an obituary does not need to wait. Families can announce the death, tell the person’s story, mention the donation if they choose, and share plans for a future memorial or celebration of life.
How to Write an Obituary When There Is No Funeral Date
Start with the same information you would include in any obituary. That may include the person’s full name, age, date of death, hometown, family relationships, career, military or community service, hobbies, interests, and qualities that made the person memorable.
You can also include a brief statement about whole-body donation if the family is comfortable doing so.
What changes is the section about services. If a funeral or memorial date has not been scheduled, there is no need to invent one or postpone publication. Instead, simply explain that memorial information will follow. For example:
- “A celebration of life will be held at a later date.”
- “The family will announce memorial arrangements separately.”
- “A private remembrance will be held in the coming months.”
These phrases let friends and extended family know that there may still be an opportunity to gather and remember the person.
How to Mention Whole-Body Donation
Some families want the obituary to acknowledge the person’s decision to donate their body to science. Others prefer to keep that information private. It really is a personal decision. If you do want to mention it, keep the wording simple and respectful. You may want to include a sentence such as:
- “In accordance with her wishes, she donated her body to medical science.”
- “He chose whole-body donation to support medical education and research.”
- “Her final gift was the donation of her body for medical training and scientific advancement.”
The donation does not need to become the focus of the obituary. It can simply be one sentence that reflects something meaningful about the person’s values.
Sample Obituary Template for a Body Donor
There really is no right or wrong way to write an obituary, but here is a basic template you can use:
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], died on [date].
[First name] was born on [date] in [place] and was the son/daughter of [parents, if desired]. He/she spent [number] years working as [occupation] and was known for [qualities, interests, or accomplishments].
Outside of work, [first name] enjoyed [hobbies, community involvement, volunteer work, family activities, or other interests]. Friends and family will remember [him/her] for [one or two personal qualities].
[First name] is survived by [family members] and was preceded in death by [family members, if desired].
In keeping with [his/her] wishes, [first name] donated [his/her] body to medical science to support education, research, and training.
A [memorial/celebration of life/private gathering] will be held [at a later date/on date and location, if known].
The family asks that [memorial contributions, flowers, or another request, if desired].
How Long Should a Eulogy Be?
Families planning a memorial may also wonder how long should a eulogy be. There is no hard-and-fast rule, but 3–5 minutes is a practical target for most memorial services. That is usually enough time to share several meaningful thoughts without losing focus. Generally, that’s about 500–700 words.
Shorter is not necessarily less meaningful. A focused eulogy built around a few specific memories often has more impact than a long chronological summary.
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What to Include in a Short Eulogy
If you’re struggling to write, you can follow these suggestions to help get you started:
- Explain your relationship to the person.
- Describe one or two qualities that defined them.
- Share a brief story or memory.
- Mention something the person valued deeply.
- Close with how you hope they will be remembered.
If whole-body donation reflected the person’s character, it can be included naturally. For example, the donation may represent generosity, service, curiosity, a commitment to education, or a desire to help future generations.
To learn more about whole-body donation in Massachusetts or speak with someone about the process, visit the United Tissue Network website or contact a donor coordinator for guidance.
