| An obituary documents the life of the deceased, | | | | included in funeral programs and printed |
| informs the public of death and gives information | | | | keepsakes. They may also be read at the funeral |
| about funeral and memorial arrangements. The | | | | or memorial service. Longer obituaries will |
| goal is to pay respect and honor to those who | | | | generally include: |
| have died, while notifying the public of his or her | | | | - Full Name |
| death. This article will give useful tips to help you | | | | - Date of birth, place of birth |
| get started writing an obituary. | | | | - Date of death, place of death |
| There are two types of obituaries, short and | | | | - Circumstances of death (This section is optional, |
| concise or longer and more detailed. Short and | | | | and may be general or specific) |
| concise obituaries are often used as death | | | | - Plans for the viewing (if applicable) |
| announcements and can be submitted to local | | | | - Name of high school or college from which he |
| newspapers. It's usually a simple paragraph or two | | | | she attended or graduated |
| that gives basic information about the deceased | | | | - Military service and decorations |
| and funeral plans. The shortest type of obituary | | | | - Religious affiliation, such as church or synagogue |
| will contain the deceased's full name, place of | | | | - Jobs held/Career Information- including |
| residence, date of birth, date of death, plans for | | | | retirement |
| funeral or memorial services, wake and burial. If | | | | - Names and relations of family members, both |
| you are tasked to submit an obituary to the | | | | surviving and pre-deceased, to include parents, |
| newspaper and are using a funeral home, start | | | | siblings, spouse, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, |
| there first. Funeral directors usually can help with | | | | and great-grandchildren |
| paperwork, and may submit the obituary on your | | | | - Awards/Recognitions received |
| behalf. Some funeral homes may even include the | | | | - Organizations to which the deceased belonged |
| cost of a standard newspaper obituary in their | | | | (volunteer work, fraternal organizations, veterans' |
| administrative fees. If you are submitting the | | | | groups, religious orders) |
| obituary on your own, get sample obituaries and | | | | A picture may or may not be included with the |
| information from your local newspaper. This will | | | | obituary. Some families choose a recent picture |
| give you a good idea of the style of obituary that | | | | while others use a picture from an earlier time in |
| the newspapers uses. This may also help you | | | | the deceased's life when he or she was younger, |
| determine of how much you will want to write, | | | | perhaps from high school, marriage, or the |
| and give you an estimated word count or | | | | military. |
| newspaper column inch sizes. Word count is | | | | There are many resources available to assist you |
| important, since newspapers will charge based on | | | | with writing the perfect obituary. The Internet has |
| how many words, or how many inches your | | | | a wealth of information, tips, templates and |
| obituary uses. | | | | samples to help get you started. Your funeral |
| The longer obituary gives a more complete | | | | director or celebrant may also have resources |
| account of the life of deceased. It often has a | | | | and samples. Personal documents such as birth |
| very personal tone, and helps the reader or | | | | certificates, resumes and military paperwork of |
| listener understand the personality of the | | | | the deceased many also be helpful with helping |
| deceased. Longer obituaries are sometimes | | | | you get all the details of the deceased's life. |