How to Write an Obituary
- An Everyman's Guide Writing an obituary can be a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with the process. It is a way to honor and remember a loved one who has passed away, but it can be difficult to put into words the life of someone who meant so much to you. Crafting a meaningful obituary can be a challenge, but it is also an opportunity to share the legacy of your loved one with the world. It can be helpful to have an idea of what you would like to include in the obituary and to reflect on the life of your loved one. With the right approach, you can create a unique and special obituary that accurately reflects the life of your loved one. What is an obituary? An obituary is a notice published in a newspaper to inform readers about the death of a person and provide information about the person’s life. An obituary is usually written by someone close to the person who has passed away, such as a family member or friend. Obituaries can be found in local newspapers, online obituary websites, and funeral home websites. They are usually published after a death has occurred, but it is possible to pre-write an obituary before a person passes away. There are two types of obituaries that are commonly published: a paid death notice and an unpaid death notice. A paid death notice is usually placed by a family member or a close friend of the deceased, and it is usually published in a newspaper’s classified section. On the other hand, an unpaid death notice is usually published in the “obituary” section of a newspaper and is often placed by a funeral home. Benefits of writing an obituary Writing an obituary is an important way to remember and honor the life of a loved one who has passed away. It can also be helpful for the family members of the deceased to process the death and celebrate the life of their loved one. By writing an obituary, you can share the story of your loved one’s life with friends and family members, as well as with a larger community. Writing an obituary can be a helpful way to process the death of a loved one. Sharing memories and stories about the person’s life can be a meaningful way to remember and honor the person who has passed away. It can help you to heal and move forward in a healthy way after the death of a loved one. Tips for writing an obituary Before you begin writing an obituary, it can be helpful to think about the person who has passed away and the type of obituary you would like to create. There are no rules or formulas to follow when writing an obituary. You can share as much or as little information about your loved one as you would like. It is a great way to celebrate the life of your loved one and share their story with the world. It can also be helpful to think about the tone you would like to create in the obituary. Some obituaries are more celebratory, while others are more subdued. You can also consider the audience you would like to reach with the obituary and how you can best provide information to that audience. It is also important to be respectful of the person you are writing about. You can choose to include both positive and negative aspects of the person’s life, but it is important to be accurate and honest in your description. Components to include in an obituary There is no one way to write an obituary, but there are some components that are commonly included. These components can help you to organize your thoughts and decide what you would like to share about the person who has passed away. - Name - Include the full name of the person who has passed away. It is also helpful to include their middle name if they had one. This can be helpful if the person had a common name and there are many other people with the same name. - Date of birth - Include the date of birth of the person who has passed away. - Date of death - Include the date of death of the person who has passed away. - Location of death - Include the location of death of the person who has passed away. Many people like to include this information in their obituary. It is helpful to know where a person passed away so that friends and family members can visit the location and remember the person who has passed away. - Summary of life - In the first section of the obituary, you can include a summary of the life of the person who has passed away. This is a chance to briefly describe their life and the major milestones that occurred throughout their life. It is helpful to keep this section short and organized, but it can be a helpful way to share some key information about the person who has passed away. Writing the obituary Once you have considered the components of an obituary and have gathered your thoughts about the person who has passed away, it is time to write the obituary. It is helpful to write the obituary in the present tense, as if the person is still living. This can help create a sense of immediacy and keep the voice of the obituary focused on the person who has passed away. It is also helpful to write the obituary by hand. Writing by hand gives you the opportunity to reflect on your thoughts and organize them in a way that is helpful and meaningful. You can then transfer your thoughts to a computer and format the obituary as you would like it to appear. It is important to remember that you can break any of these rules if it feels right for you. You can write the obituary in the past tense or in the third person, for example. You can also include the full name, the date of birth, the date of death, and a brief summary of the life of the person who has passed away in the first paragraph. It is helpful to have some idea of what you would like to say in the obituary before you begin writing, but it can also be helpful to write freely and let the words come as they come. Editing and revising the obituary Once you have written the first draft of the obituary, you can take a break from the writing and then come back to it with a fresh pair of eyes. It can be helpful to write the first draft quickly and without much critical thought. It is best to edit the first draft and revise it so that the obituary is as close to perfect as possible. You can ask other people to read the obituary and provide their feedback. You can also ask a librarian or someone at the newspaper to review the obituary before you submit it. It is helpful to have a variety of people review your obituary. You can ask family members, friends, and other loved ones to read your obituary and provide their feedback. You can also ask people who have no connection to the person who has passed away or the family member who is writing the obituary. This can provide a different perspective on the obituary and help you to edit and revise it appropriately. Where to publish the obituary Once you have written the obituary, you will need to decide where to publish it. You can choose to publish the obituary in a local newspaper, on an online obituary website, or on a funeral home website. It can depend on the type of obituary you prefer to write and where you would like to publish it. Many newspapers offer different types of obituaries, so you can choose the style that works best for you. Many newspapers also have a specific section where you can publish an obituary. You can usually find out where you can publish an obituary by contacting the newspaper directly. Some newspapers also have an online submission process for the obituary, which can make the process easier. You can also consider posting the obituary on an online obituary website. Many of these websites allow you to post an obituary free of charge and can help you to reach a wider audience. You can also consider posting the obituary on a funeral home website. This can be helpful if you are trying to reach other people in your community who are grieving and might be interested in reading the obituary. -------------- If/When You Need a Eulogy No one ever wants to hear the words “you need a eulogy writer”, but unfortunately it’s an all too familiar phrase for many people. Writing a eulogy is an emotional and difficult task, and it can often be difficult to find the right words to express your feelings. That’s where a eulogy writer can help. A professional eulogy writer can take all the emotion and stress out of the task, allowing you to focus on the positive memories and experiences of the deceased. They can also help you craft a fitting tribute that honors the memory of the deceased, ensuring that the eulogy is written with the utmost care and respect. So, while we all hope to never need a eulogy writer, we want you to know that The Eulogy Writers is here if you do. Comments are closed.
|
Archives
December 2024
AuthorSteve Schafer is the founder of TheEulogyWriters and the author of hundreds of heartfelt, wonderful eulogies. He lives in Texas and has been writing eulogies for well over thirty years. The articles in this blog are designed to help people through the process of losing loved ones and exploring issues in the aging process. |
The Eulogy Writers
105 Hat Bender Ct. Georgetown, TX 78633 |
Writers: Steve Schafer, Ralph DiBiasio-Snyder, Abi Galeas, Miriam Hill
Steve's Personal Cell Phone: (734) 846-3072 Steve's Personal email: [email protected] |