How to Write an Obituary

What's involved in writing a good obituary? That's really the first thing you have to think about when sitting down to write one for a spouse, other family member, or a close friend. Exactly what factual information should it include and how can you find a balance between dry facts and engaging storytelling? We have the answers to those questions and hope you will find the information about how to write an obituary helpful.



The Difference Between a Death Notice and an Obituary

The obituary is a longer, more detailed look at the life of the deceased and the death notice is merely a compilation of relevant facts. The obituary also includes those essential details but it expands on them to provide a more complete look at the deceased's life experiences. 

The first of the details would, of course, be the deceased’s name. If she was a married woman, you may want to include her maiden name and if he or she was commonly known by a nickname, you may want to add that as well.

Other essential details to include when writing either a death notice or an obituary are the following.

• the deceased’s full name
• the deceased’s date of death
• the deceased’s age upon death
• location (city / province) where the deceased died
• where the deceased person lived
• a list of the deceased’s surviving relatives
• details about the funeral service: date, time, place

We think it benefits the families we serve when we remind them of a simple truth: in writing a death notice or obituary for your loved one, you have the opportunity to serve future generations – not only those of your immediate family but of society as a whole. You are, in effect, recording history on an individual scale. It's a humbling yet inspiring thought; at least we think so.

Well-Written Obituaries

It's very easy to find examples of obituaries that are worthy of attention. There are interesting obituaries for everyday folk that inspire us, maybe even make us cry or laugh. Obituaries which, when we're done reading them, we say to ourselves, "I wish I would have had a chance to get to know that person." Obituaries are scattered in cyberspace, acting as digital records of a life, a time, and a place; and, recently, some very funny obituaries have been written.

Will writing our own obituaries become a trend? Maybe. We know many more people are writing their own obituaries today as it's often given as an assignment in certain college and university courses.

How you document your loved one's life story is up to you. With that said, we recommend that in addition to the facts of a death notice listed above, an obituary could also include these details.

• parents' names
• information about the spouse and children
• church affiliations
• job or career information
• personal and professional accomplishments
• personal character and interests
• influence on his or her community

It's now time to push the facts aside. Sit back and think about the anecdotes and memories you could share to shed some light on your loved one's character and personal interests. Bring factual details into play, whenever you can, to help the reader clearly see who your loved one was, how they lived, what they did, who and what they loved. The richer in detail, the more memorable the obituary becomes.

Double check spelling and grammar

Before you give a copy of the final draft of your loved one's obituary, be sure to read it through twice or even three times. You're looking for errors in spelling and grammar but you also want to make sure your facts are straight.  

Don't Hesitate to Call Us

We would be happy to offer some suggestions if you're stuck. If you would prefer to have your funeral director write the obituary, simply ask. They are experienced in writing obituaries and will take your ideas and thoughts to craft a suitable life story for your loved one. Contact us to discover how we can help you shine a brighter spotlight on their life.