How To Write An Obituary

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How To Write An Obituary

Submitted by Ellie L on 05/20/2009

When beginning an obituary there are 5 important elements that should be included in the obituary:
•   Announcement
•   Short Biography
•   Surviving relative information
•   Ceremony scheduled
•   Public Contribution

First – Begin the obituary announcement that states the person’s date of birth and death. Include a short piece on how they died i.e. heart failure and always make sure to use discretion on this part since some forms of death may be too gruesome to announce.   This section should be brief and concise, try to keep to at least one or two sentences.

Second – compose a brief biography of the person’s life which should include where he was born, raised and resided over the years. Mention any schools, awards, degrees and specific times in their life. This should also include hobbies, careers and community contributions.   When announcing school and education make sure to consider the deceased persons age, for example for someone young you may include elementary, junior high and or high school, however for someone older the high school and/or college is fine.

Third – Continue on to mention those person in their immediate family to whom death proceeded as well as any surviving immediate family members.   This should encompass, spouses, children, parents, siblings and any adoptive or step relatives.   Proceed with secondary immediate family such as grand children, uncles, aunts and first cousins.    As a finishing touch if the deceased has a very dear pet in which they cared for announcing the pet as a surviving family member can be also noted here.

Fourth - Provide detailed information on the location and times of memorial and burial services to include the re-pass information, which is usually when family and friends gather at the home of the family of the deceased following the funeral services.

Fifth – Closing the obituary make sure to thank everyone who provided donations in memory of the deceased.   This practice is US traditions which assist the grieving family from having to cope with the influx of condolence calls from abroad.

One of the most helpful aspects of working with a reputable Mortuary or funeral home is the added benefit of public media announcements to the news paper.   This option is most often notated on a form for the family to complete at the time funeral services are planned. Depending on the newspaper publication there may be a small fee for public obituaries and notices that will be included in the overall funeral service cost.   However some newspapers will charge for the obituary and offer the notice of death publication for free. Basically make the obituary tactful, well written free of grammatical and spelling errors