Writing an Obituary (2024)

Writing an Obituary (1)

When a loved one dies, you and your family will want to do everything you can to make sure that they are remembered in a positive light. The entire funeral that you are planning will be a way for you and your family to show just how much you loved your relative. It will be full of memories, laughter, and so much love. Another way to make sure that you are showing your love for your loved one is through a well-written obituary. Obituaries are used to tell the guests and anyone who may be present at the funeral who your loved one is. It is a chance for you to tell the story of your loved one’s life. It is a big honor to be able to write a eulogy. If you need any help, you can contact cremation services in Phoenix, AZ. They can answer all the questions that you may have.

What Is an Obituary?

An obituary is written to tell the story of your loved one. These will often be in the funeral program. There will even be a part of the funeral where the obituary will be silently read by everyone in attendance at the funeral. It is something you and your family should be patient with when you are writing it.

What Should Be in an Obituary?

  • Name – This is obvious, but it should still be mentioned. If you want, you can also add in any of the nicknames that you and your family called your loved one.
  • Age, Birth, and Death Date – Adding in the age, and the dates of their birth and death is a good thing to do. Some of the people who attend the funeral may not know these dates.
  • Early Life – When you start to get to the body of the obituary, you will want to start with their early life. You can speak about where they grew up, how many siblings they had, and so much more from their early life. This is the section where you can talk about college and their life as a young person.
  • Summary of Their Life – In this portion of the obituary, you should speak about what type of work they did, if they were married, when they got married, and any other details that may seem important at this time. You will have limited space for the obituary, so you should make sure that you are putting in the parts that are the most important.Writing an Obituary (2)
  • Surviving Family Members – You will want to make sure that you include surviving family members. This could be a spouse, children, and any other relatives
  • Burial Details – And finally, you can add where they will be buried.

Is an Obituary Necessary?

No. You do not have to write an obituary, but most people will want to simply because it is a way for them to speak about their loved one in their own words.

Writing an obituary is a lot of work. You should make sure that when you sit down to do it, you get input from all of your loved ones. You will not want to leave anything out, and they may know things that you have forgotten. If you need any help , you can contact cremation services in Phoenix, AZ.

Writing an Obituary (2024)

FAQs

What is the proper format for an obituary? ›

A typical obituary will have the following pieces of information:
  • A death announcement.
  • The full biography of the deceased's life.
  • Family details.
  • Funeral or memorial service date, time, and arrangements.
  • A photo of the deceased.
  • A message from the family.

What should you not include in an obituary? ›

When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.

What is an example of a good obituary? ›

Obituary Example: Announcing the Funeral. [Full name], [age], of [where they lived], sadly left us on [date of death] due to [cause of death]. They leave behind [list of surviving family members]. A service will be held in their honor at [time] on [date] at [location].

How do you write your obituary? ›

Announce the death and include their full name, age, hometown, and date of death. Include a brief summary of their life. Mention family members who have already passed away, as well as surviving family members. Share funeral or memorial service details, including whether they are public or private events.

What is the basic obituary layout? ›

Hopefully, this gives you a framework if you are looking for a simple obituary that still captures the essence of your loved one. [Full Name], aged [age of the deceased], passed away peacefully on [date of death], at [location of death]. He/she was born on [date of birth], in [birthplace], to [names of parents].

What is the best opening line for an obituary? ›

Ideas for the Beginning Paragraph
  • On (day, date), (full name of deceased) of (city of residence) passed away at the age of ____ years.
  • The family of (full name of deceased) of (city of residence) is saddened to announce his/her passing on (day, date) at the age of _____ years.

What to omit from an obituary? ›

When you begin writing the obituary, try to omit details that could be used for identity theft including: Deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name, mother's maiden name or employment history and home address.

What is the proper way to list family members in an obituary? ›

When you are listing a relative, make sure to include their first name, their spouse's first name in parenthesis and then their last name. It should look something like this: “JoAnne leaves behind her children Doug (Susan) Smith, Joe (Dianne) Smith, and Sarah (Mark) Perry.”

How do you write a short simple obituary? ›

Even in a short format, an obituary should convey essential information:
  1. Full name of the deceased, including nicknames if appropriate.
  2. Age at the time of passing.
  3. Date of death.
  4. City and state of residence.
  5. Details about funeral or memorial service (optional).
  6. List of surviving family members (optional).
Apr 18, 2024

What is the last sentence of an obituary? ›

Concluding Message

Phrases like “We will always carry your memory in our hearts,” or perhaps a favorite quote of your loved one are heartfelt and personal.

How do you write a lovely obituary? ›

5 Tips for Writing a Beautiful, Deeply Personal Obituary
  1. Informal is Okay. Many people think obituaries require formality or a stiff recitation of dates and facts. ...
  2. Tell A Favorite Story. People connect deeply through stories. ...
  3. Humor Helps. Humor goes a long way to easing sadness. ...
  4. Share their Passion. ...
  5. Practice Ahead of Time.
Jan 26, 2022

Is there a template for an obituary? ›

An obituary template is a pre-made format for writing about someone who has passed away. It typically includes important details like the person's name, age, birthdate, where they lived, and who their surviving family members are.

Who typically writes an obituary? ›

While there are no rules when it comes to who writes the obituary, they're typically written by family members or close friends. When a loved one passes, the family usually decides who will write it based on their relationship to the deceased or writing ability.

How soon after death do you write an obituary? ›

There is no specific rule that requires you to publish an obituary right away. In most cases, people aim to publish an obituary 1-2 weeks following the passing of a loved one. However, publishing it months or even a year after a loved one's death is completely okay.

What are the opening lines for an obituary? ›

Suggested wording: “It is with great sadness that the family of (deceased name) announce (his/her) passing….” “(Deceased name) will be sadly missed by ….” “Fondly remembered by….”

What are the final words on an obituary? ›

Concluding Message

In the conclusion of the obituary, special requests may be made such as, “in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to…” or “Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at General Hospital for…” Some families make the final line a dedication honoring their loved one.

What do names in parentheses mean in obituaries? ›

If you like to be technical, names should be listed as follows: first name, spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname (ex: Tom (Sarah) Johnson). If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

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