Friend obituary examples for inspiration

Rachel Torres, 33, of Portland, Oregon, died on January 28, 2026, in a car accident. She was our person, and we don't know what we're going to do without her. Rachel was born in Eugene, Oregon, and moved to Portland after graduating from the University of Oregon in 2014. She worked as a veterinary technician at Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, where she was known for talking to the animals as if they understood everything she said. They probably did. Rachel was the friend who texted you song lyrics at 2 a.m. because she heard something that reminded her of you. She kept a running list of restaurant recommendations for every city she'd visited. She fostered 14 dogs in three years and cried every time she gave one up. She loved hiking in the Gorge, thrift shopping for vintage dresses, and hosting dinner parties in her tiny apartment where everyone sat on the floor and nobody minded. Rachel is survived by her parents, Luis and Sarah Torres; her brother, Alex Torres; her cat, Pancake; and a circle of friends who are better people for having known her. A celebration of Rachel's life will be held February 8 at 2 p.m. at Cathedral Park. Bring flowers if you want. She would have liked that. Donations may be made to Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital.

Mike Kowalczyk, 47, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died on February 3, 2026. His friends are writing this because they want the world to know who he was outside his family's front door. Mike was born in Pittsburgh and never left. He went to Central Catholic, then Pitt, then straight to work at PNC Bank, where he spent 20 years in IT. But that's the resume version. The real version is that Mike was the friend who organized everything. He started a fantasy football league in 2003 that still has every original member. He planned the annual camping trip to Cook Forest for 15 years. He remembered everyone's kids' names and asked about them. He showed up at hospitals and funerals and helped people move apartments, which is the true test of friendship. Mike played rec hockey at Alpha Ice Complex every Tuesday and was proud of the fact that he still had all his original teeth. He could grill a perfect steak, he knew every Steelers stat going back to 1975, and he was the only person in the friend group who actually read the articles before arguing about them. Mike is survived by his wife, Lisa; his sons, Jack and Luke; his parents, John and Patricia Kowalczyk; his brother, Steve; and approximately 200 friends who will miss Tuesday nights. A celebration of Mike's life will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at Rivertowne Brewing. In lieu of flowers, join a fantasy football league.

Kenneth Ray Washington, 72, of Detroit, Michigan, passed away on February 11, 2026, at Beaumont Hospital. Kenneth was born on June 20, 1953, in Detroit to Raymond and Doris Washington. He graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1971 and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Wayne State University in 1975. Kenneth spent 38 years at Ford Motor Company, rising from the assembly floor to senior manufacturing engineer at the Dearborn Truck Plant. He was the kind of engineer who still walked the production line every morning, even when his office was three buildings away. He married Carla Jenkins in 1978. Together they raised three children and were active members of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church for over 40 years. Kenneth's friends knew him as the man who could fix anything mechanical, who gave advice only when asked, and who would drive across town in a blizzard if you needed help. He organized a fishing trip to Lake St. Clair every June for his group of friends from high school. They'd been going for 45 years. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Carla; his children, Kenneth Jr. (Angela), Stephanie (Marcus) Williams, and David Washington; eight grandchildren; his brother, Raymond Washington Jr.; and his fishing crew. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cass Tech Alumni Association.