FAQs
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.
What is proper etiquette for an obituary? ›
Obituary Guidelines
- Deceased's full name, including well-known nickname, (if any) followed by a comma and age at death. (You do not need to say “age”.) ...
- Residence (name of the city) at death. ...
- Day and date of death.
- Place of death (if appropriate). ...
- Cause of death (if appropriate).
What to write in an obituary message? ›
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 I write preceded in death in an obituary? ›
Start the paragraph with the deceased's first name, and then “was preceded in death by:” followed by the list of names.
What should not be included 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.
How do you write a simple death notice? ›
How to Write a Death Announcement
- Full name of the deceased.
- State that they have died.
- Date and location of death.
- Funeral and/or memorial date, time, and location.
- Optional information, such as for donations.
What is a good short obituary example? ›
[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 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 the first paragraph of an obituary? ›
Opening Paragraph
The first paragraph of the obituary should include the deceased person's full name, including any nicknames they may have used, their age, date and place of death. Some people choose to include cause of death, but this is optional depending on how much information you would like to share.
What is the best opening line for an obituary? ›
“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….” “Forever remembered by….”
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? ›
The common order of family in an obituary is: A spouse or partner. Children and the spouses or partners of the children, whose names are set off with parentheses so that it looks like Child (Partner's First Name)
How soon after death do you write an obituary? ›
Publishing an obituary is a time-sensitive process–you should try to have it written and posted within a week of the deceased's passing. This goes for obituaries published both online and in print. If the obituary includes funeral details, you must publish it at least three days before the funeral.
How should an obituary end? ›
The obituary should end by naming your loved one's surviving family members, then giving information about the funeral or memorial service, if the family is making those details public, as well as information about any memorial funds or charitable organizations that people should send donations to.
How to write an obituary step by step? ›
7 Steps for Writing an Obituary
- The death announcement.
- Details about the person's life.
- Any personal achievements.
- Surviving family members.
- Charity donation information.
- A photo.
- Funeral or memorial service details.
What is usually written in an obituary? ›
Jot down the key facts first
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).
How to list family in an obituary example? ›
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. It should look something like this: “Tony leaves behind his children Stuart (Dianne) Smith, Jody (Mark) Powell, and Katherine (Nick) Harroway.”
How do you write a strong obituary? ›
How to Write an Obituary - 7 Steps
- Announce their death. Use full names (nick name and maiden names), city they resided in and age.
- Share their life story. ...
- List family members. ...
- Include funeral or memorial service information. ...
- Add charity information. ...
- Select a photo. ...
- Share the obituary online and in your local newspaper.