Decoding the Steps to Writing an Obituary
After a loss of a loved one, one of the first things people expect is to read an obituary. However, in the midst of grief, it can be overwhelming to try to sum up a person’s life in the span of a page. To simplify the process, here are some tips to writing an obituary.
Most importantly, an obituary should include details about a person’s life. The goal is for readers to affirm their connection to the person, learn the timeline of their life, and under their legacy within the community.
Dates: The obituary should include dates of major life events such as birth, graduations, marriages, having children, moving to different cities, etc.
Places: Describe where a person’s life took them, from where they grew up, to where they attended school, to the places they lived and worked, including both city and state.
Affiliations: Where did the person work? Were they part of any professional or community organizations? Did they give time or money to any cause?
Spirituality/Faith: Was the person involved in a faith community? You may want to include what their spiritual connection was like during life.
Hobbies/Interests: Give a brief description of the person’s interests, hobbies, and talents.
Accomplishments: List any accomplishments, awards, or projects the person was proud of in life.
Personality: In a few sentences, talk about who a person was, their personality, and what people will miss most about them.
Legacy: What would the person want others to know about them? Maybe there is a favorite quote they often shared, something they believed in, or a cause they would want others to take up.
Family: List immediate surviving family members, including spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings. Extended family is typically not listed by name. Family members who have preceded someone in death may also be listed.
Services: Provide details about the services, including time, date, and location.
Donation information: Most obituaries feature an option to donate to a specific organization or cause rather than sending flowers to the service.
Optional items: Although it is not required, sometimes families include the cause of death to bring awareness to a certain illness or cause. Some families also call attention to the method of disposition, such as burial, cremation, green burial, water cremation, etc.
Placing an obituary
Rarely do people grow up, settle, and pass away in one community, so it can be hard to determine in which communities the obituary should be published. To solve this dilemma, most funeral homes can create a tribute page with the obituary on their website, allowing people to access the information from any location. The funeral home can also help to run the obituary in relevant newspapers.
Beyond the obituary
When it comes to telling someone’s story, the obituary is just the start. Once posted on the funeral home website, people can leave messages and memories that allow the story to grow. During the service, the eulogy also gives a much more in-depth picture of a person. The eulogy includes personal stories, descriptions, and insights into who a person truly is and was, and the impact they made on this world.
Write your own obituary
We encourage people to start writing their own obituary during the pre-planning process. It can be helpful to your family to have even a basic list of dates, places, and names to include in the obituary. After all, no one knows you better than you.
Tap into local resources
The good news is that you are not alone when it comes to writing the obituary. Whether you’re pre-planning or you’re in the midst of a loss, our funeral directors are here to help guide you in the obituary-writing process. We will start a discussion, gather information, and put your story into words.
Contact us at any time to get started.
