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

Writing 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 should you not put 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 the formula for writing an 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 a good sentence for obituary? ›

Obituary Example 1:

It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved father, [full name], who left us on [date of death] at the age of [age]. Surrounded by his loving family and friends in his final moments, he was a man of immense humor and wisdom, cherishing every moment spent with his loved ones.

What's the proper way to write an obituary? ›

Elements of an Obituary
  1. Death announcement.
  2. Date and time of memorial service.
  3. Biographical information or summary of life.
  4. List of close friends and family.
  5. Memorable moments and accomplishments.
  6. Funeral or memorial details.
  7. Acknowledgments and donations.
  8. Pictures.

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

When you list the survivors, make sure that you list them in order of closest relation to the deceased: spouse, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents, and siblings. When you are listing a relative, make sure to include their first name, their spouse's first name in brackets and then their last name.

What is an example of a short obituary? ›

[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]. He/she was a proud resident of [city of residence] and was a 1975 graduate of Holy Cross High School.

What is the first line of 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 is the last paragraph of 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 is the last sentence of an obituary? ›

Some families make the final line a dedication honoring their loved one. Phrases like “We will always carry your memory in our hearts,” or perhaps a favorite quote of your loved one are heartfelt and personal. Other families select a short prayer, a religious quotation, or a line from a poem to place at the end.

How do you make a beautiful 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

What words to say in obituary? ›

Include Emotion. The best words for obituaries are ones that show how you really feel about the person who has died. If you're writing an obituary for your mother, tell how you felt about her as a person. Similarly, in an obituary for your father, tell what he did and how he affected people emotionally.

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.

Should you include your birthdate in an obituary? ›

Even the most sensational obituaries should include key details about the person's life and death. First, you'll want to include the person's name, birth place, age, date of death, location and cause of death (optional).

Why would someone not write an obituary? ›

Some may feel that it is too personal or private to share with the public, while others may not have the financial means to pay for its publication. Additionally, some families may prefer to grieve privately and not draw attention to the death.

What is safe to put in an obituary? ›

The types of things that should be placed in an obituary include talking about the deceased person, what their life was about, who they were, the things they accomplished, the organizations they belonged to, the types of things they enjoyed, their family members, the schools they graduated from, and the type of work ...

What information is essential in an obituary? ›

Other essential details to include when writing either a death notice or an obituary are:
  • Their age upon death.
  • Birthday.
  • Birthplace.
  • A list of the surviving relatives.
  • The date of death.
  • The location (city/state) where they died.
  • Details about the funeral service: date, time, place.
  • Full name.

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