Tips for Writing an Obituary

When you have lost a loved one, it can be incredibly difficult to handle funeral arrangements. The obituary tends to be the responsibility of the close family members of the deceased. These tips for writing an obituary can help to reduce the strain of writing the obituary and ensure that you write the best obituary possible for your loved one.

Make a List

Before you begin writing the obituary, it can be particularly useful to make a list of the important pieces of the loved one’s life. This will help you to include all of these details in the obituary. Ensure that you make a list of important events, places, people, and dates in the person’s life.

How to Start an Obituary

The majority of obituaries begin with a death announcement. This announcement should include the age, name, and place of residence of the individual. Some families choose to include the cause of death, particularly when the loved one was rather young, but this is often up to the family’s preferences. It is important to ensure that you don’t include a specific address in the obituary. This can provide information to harmful sources regarding a house that will certainly be empty during the funeral.

Tell Their Story

After you have made the announcement of death, you will want to tell the story of the deceased. It can be helpful to write the story in present tense, then go back and change it to past tense. This often helps you to feel more connected with your loved one and tell a compelling, personal story. You should also consider 5 descriptive words that would be most effectively applied to their life. Focusing on these words can help you to tell their story. Consider what was important to them. Making a list of milestones can also aid in telling their story.

Note Milestones

Important milestones in the person’s life will help you to paint the picture of your loved one’s life. Many important milestones will include their birthdate, marriages, education achievements, career achievements, and other things that were important to them.

List Family Members

When you list the family members of the individual, you will want to start with their spouse, whether they are still living or not. Then you generally will include the children of the individual, as well as the spouses of the children. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are often included after this point. However, keep in mind that it is generally not typical to include aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Funeral Particulars

It is important to include the details of the funeral toward the end of the obituary. You will want to list where and when the funeral will be located. You should also include if there will be a viewing or other service where people can come to pay their respects.

Include a Closing Message

At the end of the obituary, you will want to include a closing message. This can either be a personal statement or information regarding donations. The closing message can be incredibly powerful, depending on what you choose to do with it. During this point, you will want to include the wishes for donations, such as information on where to send flowers or if you would prefer donations be made to a charity in lieu of flowers. This closing method often depends on the preferences of the family.

Review

When you have finished writing the obituary, it will be important to ensure that you review it for mistakes. It can be useful to have another person review the obituary for you in order to get a fresh set of eyes. This will go a long way toward identifying any mistakes and ensuring that the final obituary is free of any errors. It can also give you some insight regarding another person’s opinions regarding what should be included in the obituary. It is important to take the time to carefully review and edit the obituary after you have finished writing it.

Standard Components of an Obituary

Understanding the various components that are standard in an obituary can help you to ensure that each of these components are included in the obituary that you are writing. The majority of obituaries begin with an announcement of death. Following this, there is a brief description of the important details and life events from the individual’s life. A typical obituary will then list various family members, beginning with the spouse and going on to grandchildren or great-grandchildren. The obituary should also include details such as the place and time of any funeral, memorial, or viewing services. Flower or memorial donation information is also generally included in an obituary. Finally, a standard obituary will include photos of the loved one.

Consider Using a Template

There are many templates that are available to help you determine the best way to write your obituary. Following these templates can go a long way toward simplifying the obituary writing process and ensure that you don’t miss crucial details in the obituary. However, you should review the template options available to you beforehand in order to choose the best one to meet your specific needs. It may also be helpful to read through other obituaries to provide you with a broad idea of what you want the obituary to look like.

Here at Russon Mortuary & Crematory, we understand how difficult it can be to lose a loved one. An obituary is an important part of the process, because it serves to announce the death and convey information regarding where people can go to pay their respects. Following the tips for writing an obituary can substantially help to simplify the process and ensure that the obituary is free of errors. Our experts at Russon Mortuary & Crematory are dedicated to providing you with the services that you need to hold the ideal memorial service or funeral for your loved one. To learn more about the best tips for writing an obituary, contact us at Russon Mortuary & Crematory today!