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Sep 5, 2023 · If you know someone who has recently passed away, you may be asked to write an obituary. An obituary is a public notice that shares the news of someone’s death, which is published so others who knew the deceased can pay their respects.
1. Announce their death. Use full names (nick name and maiden names), city they resided in and age. 2. Share their life story. Make sure to capture what moments defined them. 3. List family...
6 days ago · Here’s a list of some essential information a good obituary includes: Full name. Date of birth. Date of death. Age at the time of death. Service information: date, time, and location of funeral or memorial services, with visitation details. Flower or donation information. Names of close family members, both living and dead.
- Overview
- Structuring
- Revising
- Submitting
Honor a loved one who has passed by sharing their story with your community
Writing an obituary is a great responsibility but also a very meaningful gesture. Losing a loved one is a difficult process to go through, but taking the time to write an obituary can help honor their life. An obituary provides important information about your loved one, such as when they passed away and when the funeral service takes place, but it can also paint a picture of the life they lived. We’ll take you through the steps of writing, revising, and submitting your obituary to be printed in the newspaper so that you can have an easier time writing a touching piece to remember your loved one.
Announce the name and time of death in the first sentence.
In your opening sentence, start with their name, where they lived, and when they passed away. You don’t need to provide the cause of death if you don’t want to. Keep this sentence brief and to the point so you can expand the obituary in other places. Some examples include:
“On the morning of June 10, 2019, John William Smith of Atlanta died at the age of 80.”
“On the evening of September 7, 2010, Angela “Angie” Lauren Brown passed away peacefully due to natural causes at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, IN. Angie was 75 years old.”
“In the early morning of December 15, 2018, Joseph Mathew Lee passed away after a four-year battle with cancer while being tended to by staff at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, VT. He was 50 years old.”
Include a short summary of their life in the next paragraph.
Read the obituary out loud to catch any errors.
Carefully read the obituary after you’ve written it to check the grammar and look for spelling errors. Note your changes with a pen or pencil so you know to go back and change them.
If you wrote your paper on a computer, print it out so you can easily mark up the page with what you need to change.
Ask a friend or family member to check for missed information.
Give the obituary you’ve written to a close relative so they can see if they have anything to add or would like to remove. Write down any suggestions they have and try to work them into a new copy of the obituary.
Talk to multiple people that were close to your loved one to see if they have any stories or details they think should be included.
Look on your local paper’s website to see how to submit an obituary.
Many papers accept obituaries through a web portal or by email. Look up the website for your local paper to see how they accept their submissions and what files you need to include. Plan on submitting the obituary 2-3 days before the service is held so others can make travel arrangements to get there.
Look into their pricing for printing as well. Most newspapers charge you based on how many inches your tribute takes up on the physical paper. These can get pretty pricey, so set a budget for yourself.
Many funeral packages offer obituaries with their services. If you’re using one, check with the package you have to see when you need to submit the obituary through them.
Provide a photo of the deceased if you would like.
Choose a happy photo of your loved one so other people recognize that they lived a good life. Check with the newspaper where you plan on submitting to see if they have any size requirements for the photo you plan on submitting.
Nov 3, 2023 · An obituary is a brief tribute that announces a person’s death and provides a concise account of their life, accomplishments, and personal traits. Typically written during intense grief, it serves to honor the deceased and inform the community of their passing.
Sep 13, 2023 · Writing an obituary doesn’t have to feel like a chore – it’s an opportunity to share your loved one’s life with others, reflect, and celebrate their life. Here are some tips on how to make sure you’re following the expected rules of obituary etiquette.
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Sep 26, 2024 · An obituary is a short article that announces the death of someone who’s just passed away. It usually includes details about their life and personality. It also has details about the time and place of their funeral or memorial service.
