The Tribute Journal
Obituary for a Brother: 8 Examples to Copy
An obituary for a brother follows the same shape as any obituary: name, age and date, who he was, the family he leaves, and the service. What changes is who writes it and how the siblings are named. Below are eight complete examples, plus the sibling-specific questions families get stuck on.
Siblings are easy to overlook when a family is grieving. The Compassionate Friends notes that surviving siblings "are often referred to as the 'forgotten mourners,'" because "attention and words of comfort are usually aimed at the parents, spouse and children." Writing the obituary, or helping to, is one way a brother or sister takes their rightful place in it. For the general method, see how to write an obituary.
Who writes a brother's obituary?
- If he was married or had children, his spouse or children usually lead, and his siblings contribute memories and check the family names.
- If he was single, a parent or sibling usually writes it, and his brothers and sisters often become the main survivors listed.
- If it falls to you, draft it with another family member. Two people catch more errors, and it is lighter to carry together.
How to list his siblings
- Order: most families list siblings oldest to youngest, or brothers then sisters. Pick one and keep it consistent.
- Spouses: a sibling's spouse goes in parentheses: "his sister, Karen (Mark) Ellis."
- Half- and step-siblings: many families simply list them as his brothers and sisters. If you want to be precise, "his half-brother, James" is fine. Do whatever reflects how he saw them.
- Siblings who died before him: "He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael."
- Large families: "his eight brothers and sisters" with names is warmer than a number alone, but a number is acceptable if space is tight.
What to leave out
AARP advises leaving out "the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name," and never printing a home address. The examples below use a birth year at most and a town, not a street.
1. Short obituary for a brother
Daniel Joseph Kelly, 63, of Rochester, New York, died on October 6, 2026. He is survived by his brothers, Michael and Patrick; his sister, Anne (Robert) Moore; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church.
2. For an older brother
Raymond Charles Foster, 72, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died on September 30, 2026.
Ray was the oldest of five, which meant he taught the rest of them to ride a bike, change a tire and stand up for themselves, usually in that order. He spent 40 years as a high school chemistry teacher, and former students still stopped him in the grocery store to say he was the reason they went to college.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria; his daughter, Rebecca; his brothers, Dennis and Wayne; and his sisters, Linda and Joyce.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 5, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church.
3. For a younger brother who died young
Christopher James Nguyen, 29, of San Jose, California, died on October 2, 2026.
Chris was a software developer, a gifted guitarist and the baby of the family, who never let his three older sisters forget it. He was kind to everyone, terrible at answering texts and the first person at the door when anyone needed help moving.
He is survived by his parents, Thanh and Linh; his sisters, Anna, Mai and Lily; and his nephews, Ethan and Leo.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 10, at 2 p.m. at the family's church, followed by a gathering at his parents' home for family and close friends.
4. For a brother with a wife and children
Mark Anthony Russo, 54, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died on September 27, 2026, after a short illness.
Mark was a union carpenter, a devoted Steelers fan and a father who never missed a game, a recital or a chance to embarrass his kids in public. He was the brother everyone called first.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Diane; his children, Nicholas and Gina; his parents, Frank and Rose; his brothers, Paul and Joseph; and his sister, Teresa.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 1, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home, with a funeral Mass the following morning at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony's Church.
5. For a single brother
William "Billy" Harris, 66, of Billings, Montana, died on October 4, 2026.
Billy never married, but he was never alone. He was the uncle who taught every niece and nephew to fish, the neighbor who shoveled everyone's walk before dawn, and a fixture at the diner counter every morning at six.
He is survived by his brothers, Robert and Gary; his sister, Nancy (Tom) Allen; eleven nieces and nephews; and his dog, Scout. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jim.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 9, at 2 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery.
6. For a brother who served
Specialist Kevin Lee Walker, U.S. Army veteran, 47, of San Antonio, Texas, died on September 25, 2026.
Kevin served two tours in Iraq and came home to a second career as a paramedic, because, as he put it, he was not done helping people. He was a loyal brother, a patient uncle and the best barbecue cook in the family by a mile.
He is survived by his mother, Doris; his brothers, Marcus and Darnell; his sister, Tasha; and five nieces and nephews.
A funeral service with military honors will be held on Thursday, October 1, at 11 a.m. at Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
7. After a struggle with addiction
Jason Michael Reed, 36, of Columbus, Ohio, died on September 29, 2026, after a long struggle with addiction.
Jason was funny, generous and fiercely loyal, and for much of his life he fought a disease that did not define him. He loved his nephews, the Buckeyes and any dog that would sit still long enough to be petted. We share the cause of his death in the hope that it helps another family reach out for help sooner.
He is survived by his parents, Gary and Susan; his brother, Ryan (Amy); his sister, Lauren; and his nephews, Owen and Caleb.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 10, at 3 p.m. at Grace Community Church.
8. For a celebration of life
Sean Patrick Doyle, 58, of Portland, Maine, died on October 3, 2026.
Sean was a lobsterman, a musician and the brother who could make anyone laugh at the worst possible moment. He played fiddle at every family wedding for thirty years and never once learned to play the song the bride asked for.
He is survived by his sisters, Maureen and Kathleen; his brother, Brendan; and a crowd of nieces, nephews and friends.
In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life on Saturday, October 24, at 4 p.m. at the harbor. Bring an instrument if you have one.
Tips for writing it
- Use his name, not "my brother." The obituary introduces him to everyone, not only to you.
- Include the childhood detail. Siblings hold memories no one else does: the bike lessons, the shared bedroom. That is what a brother's obituary has that others do not.
- Agree the sibling list with the family before it prints. Who is named, in what order, and whether "half" or "step" is used are the details most likely to cause hurt.
- Know the cost. Newspapers usually run family-written obituaries as paid notices, which Wikipedia notes are "usually run as classified advertisements." The program version costs nothing extra.
If you are also speaking at the service, our eulogy examples include tributes written by siblings, and our funeral acknowledgements show how to thank everyone in the program.
Common questions
How do I write an obituary for my brother?
Open with his full name, age, city and the date he died. Add a short paragraph on who he was, ideally with a childhood or family detail only a sibling would know. List the family he leaves, then those who died before him, and finish with the service details.
Who should write a brother's obituary?
If he had a spouse or children, they usually lead and siblings contribute. If he was single, a parent or sibling usually writes it. Drafting it with a second family member helps catch errors and shares the weight.
How do you list half-siblings in an obituary?
Many families simply list half- and step-siblings as his brothers and sisters. If you want to be precise, "his half-brother, James" is perfectly correct. Follow how he described them.
In what order should siblings be listed?
Usually oldest to youngest, or brothers and then sisters. A sibling's spouse goes in parentheses after their name. Whatever order you choose, use it consistently.
Should the cause of death be included?
Only if the family wants it. Many now name addiction or suicide openly in the hope of helping other families; others leave the cause out entirely. Both choices are respectful.
What should not be included in an obituary?
AARP advises leaving out the full date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name, which identity thieves use, and never including a home address.
