25 Obituary Examples

Eleanor "Ellie" Marie Thompson, 78, of Portland, Oregon, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, surrounded by her children.

Born in 1947 in Spokane, Washington, Ellie raised four children with endless patience and a kitchen that always smelled of fresh bread. She taught second grade for thirty years and was, by her own count, "grandmother to half the town."

She is survived by her children, James, Karen, Paul, and Beth; nine grandchildren; and her sister, Ruth. A celebration of her life will be held on April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose City Methodist Church.

Maria Elena Vasquez, 71, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on March 18, 2026. A loving mother and grandmother, she is survived by her three children and seven grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be held March 24 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Church.

We celebrate the joyful, generous life of Patricia Lynn Carter, who left us on February 11, 2026, at the age of 69.

Patty never met a stranger. She filled every room with laughter, fed everyone who walked through her door, and danced in the kitchen to records she had played a thousand times. Her family was her masterpiece.

She leaves behind her devoted husband of 45 years, Tom; her children, Sarah and Michael; four grandchildren; and a community of friends who were family. Join us to share stories on February 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lakeside Community Hall.

Robert "Bob" Allen Mitchell, 82, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on January 30, 2026, with his family at his side.

A Navy veteran and lifelong carpenter, Bob built half the porches in his neighborhood and never accepted a dime for it. He loved fishing at dawn, a strong cup of coffee, and his grandchildren most of all.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; his sons, David and Steven; and six grandchildren. Services will be held February 5 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, with military honors.

Henry James O’Brien, 75, of Boston, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026. A devoted father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife, Anne, and their two children. A funeral Mass will be celebrated March 15 at St. Brendan’s.

William "Bill" Charles Anderson, 84, of Denver, Colorado, passed away on April 14, 2026, after a life lived fully and generously.

Born in 1942 in Pueblo, Colorado, Bill was the first in his family to attend college, working nights to put himself through engineering school. He spent four decades designing bridges across the American West, and he could not drive over one without telling you exactly how it stood up.

But Bill measured his life in people, not projects. He coached Little League for twenty years, mentored young engineers, and never missed a grandchild’s recital. He loved jazz, terrible puns, and his wife of 58 years, Margaret, above all.

He is survived by Margaret; his children, Thomas (Lisa) and Janet (Mark); five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, George. A memorial service will be held April 22 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the engineering scholarship fund he endowed at Colorado State.

Rosa "Nana" Giuliani, 91, of Providence, Rhode Island, passed away on February 28, 2026, surrounded by four generations of family.

Nana came to America at 19 with a suitcase and a recipe box, both of which she guarded fiercely. Her Sunday dinners were legendary, her opinions louder, and her love without limit.

She is survived by her five children, fourteen grandchildren, and twenty-two great-grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be held March 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church.

Dorothy Mae Sullivan, 88, of Savannah, Georgia, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026. A beloved grandmother of eleven, she will be remembered for her quilts, her garden, and her gentle faith. Services are private.

Earl Wendell Jackson, 86, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on January 19, 2026.

Grandpa Earl was a storyteller, a deacon, and the kind of man who fixed your car and then refused to let you pay. He played harmonica on the porch every evening and knew the name of every dog on his street.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; three children; and ten grandchildren. A homegoing service will be held January 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

Samuel "Pop" Lee Washington, 90, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on April 6, 2026, after nine decades of quiet, steady greatness.

Pop was born in 1936 in rural Alabama and rose before dawn every day of his working life — first on a farm, then in a steel mill, then in his own small repair shop that he ran with pride for forty years. He believed in honest work, paid debts, and showing up.

He married his sweetheart, Bernice, in 1958, and they raised six children in a house full of music and discipline and love. Pop taught every grandchild to fish, to fix a flat, and to look people in the eye.

He is survived by Bernice; his children and their spouses; nineteen grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held April 13 at 1:00 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church.

Catherine "Cathy" Ann Reynolds, 64, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on March 2, 2026, in the arms of her husband of 40 years.

Cathy was a nurse for her entire career and a caretaker for her entire life. She had a gift for making the frightened feel safe and the lonely feel seen. She loved her garden, her book club, and Friday-night pizza with her grandkids.

She is survived by her husband, Greg; her daughters, Emily and Laura; and four grandchildren. A memorial will be held March 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Lakeview Chapel.

Daniel Joseph Foster, 67, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away on February 20, 2026.

Dan was a high school history teacher who made the past feel alive, and a husband who made the present feel like a gift. He hiked every trail in the Blue Ridge, kept a terrible vegetable garden with great enthusiasm, and loved his wife, Susan, for 42 years.

He is survived by Susan; his son, Andrew; and two grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held February 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Botanical Gardens he loved.

Linda Carol Bennett, 70, of Sacramento, California, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026. The beloved wife of Richard for 48 years, she is survived by him, their three children, and six grandchildren. A private family service will be held.

Michael "Mike" David Carlson, 34, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on March 5, 2026.

Mike was a son, a brother, and a friend to everyone lucky enough to know him. He coached youth soccer, played guitar badly and proudly, and could make anyone laugh on their worst day. His warmth was his whole life.

He is survived by his parents, John and Diane; his sister, Amy; and countless friends. A celebration of Mike’s life will be held March 12 at 4:00 p.m. at Lakewood Hall.

Sophia Rose Martinez, 28, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away on February 14, 2026, after facing illness with remarkable courage.

Sophia was an artist whose murals brighten three city blocks and a daughter whose joy brightened every room. She loved fiercely, painted constantly, and lived more in 28 years than most do in eighty.

She is survived by her parents, Carlos and Rita; her brother, Diego; and a community of friends and fellow artists. A memorial gathering will be held February 21 at 5:00 p.m. at the downtown arts center.

Lily Grace Harmon, age 6, of Eugene, Oregon, passed away on March 1, 2026, held by the parents who adored her.

In her short, bright life, Lily loved butterflies, bedtime stories, and her little brother. She taught everyone who knew her to find wonder in small things. She is survived by her parents, Mark and Jenna, and her brother, Owen. A gathering to remember Lily will be held March 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Hendricks Park.

Anthony "Tony" Russo, 59, of Newark, New Jersey, passed away on March 16, 2026. A loyal friend, a fixture at the corner café, and the first to help a neighbor, Tony leaves behind more friends than can be counted. A celebration of his life will be held March 22 at the community center.

Master Sergeant George Edward Hill (Ret.), 88, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on February 8, 2026.

George served 24 years in the United States Army, including two tours in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his service, he spent thirty years as a beloved high school JROTC instructor, shaping thousands of young lives.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; three children; and seven grandchildren. A service with full military honors will be held February 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Chapel.

Rachel Marie Coleman, 41, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away suddenly on March 19, 2026. A devoted mother, a gifted teacher, and a bright light to all who knew her, she is survived by her husband, Brian, and their two children. Details for a memorial service will be announced.

Frank Leonard Adams, 79, of Portland, Maine, passed away on February 25, 2026. At his request, cremation has taken place and no formal service will be held. The family asks that you remember Frank by doing a quiet kindness for a stranger, as he so often did.

Grace Eleanor Whitfield, 83, of Charleston, South Carolina, was called home to the Lord on March 4, 2026.

A faithful member of Bethel AME Church for sixty years, Grace sang in the choir, led the women’s ministry, and lived every day in service to others. Her faith was the thread through all of it.

She is survived by her four children, eleven grandchildren, and a church family who loved her. A homegoing celebration will be held March 11 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel AME Church.

Walter Reed Donovan, 80, of Spokane, Washington, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026. A kind and private man who loved books, chess, and the public library where he volunteered for decades, Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth. He is remembered fondly by his neighbors and friends. A small gathering will be held at the library on March 20.

Joan Patricia Reilly, 84, of Chicago, Illinois, died March 22, 2026. Survived by her son, Kevin. Service private. Arrangements by Hilltop Funeral Home.

Albert "Al" Tran, 73, of San Jose, California, passed away on March 7, 2026, surrounded by family.

Al came to the United States in 1979, opened a small grocery that became a neighborhood cornerstone, and put two daughters through college on its modest shelves. He was generous to a fault and proud in the quietest way.

He is survived by his wife, Mai; his daughters, Linh and Trang; and four grandchildren. A service will be held March 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple.

Margaret "Peggy" Ellen Carter, 82, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Peggy was born on July 14, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Robert and Alice Hayes. She married her high school sweetheart, James Carter, in 1964, and together they built a life and a hardware store that anchored their small town for forty years.

Peggy was happiest with dirt under her nails and a grandchild at her side. She grew tomatoes she insisted were the best in the county, never forgot a birthday, and could talk a stranger into friendship in under five minutes. She volunteered at the food bank for thirty years and sang alto, loudly, in the church choir.

She is survived by her husband, James; her children, Susan (Mark) and David (Lena); five grandchildren; and her sister, Joan. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tom.

A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held on March 9 at 11:00 a.m. at First Methodist Church in Asheville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the local food bank she loved.