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Tips On Writing An Obituary
Regina Barnett
When someone you know dies, you may be asked to write their obituary. But what is an obituary and how do you go about writing one? Read on for some helpful tips.
What is an obituary?
An obituary is an announcement of someone's death that is published in a newspaper or on a newspaper's website.
The piece will contain some information about the deceased's life, together with information about their funeral service and arrangements. Obituaries are typically brief, due to the cost of placing them and are traditionally written by a friend or associate of the deceased, rather than a relative.
Which newspaper to choose
Before you put pen to paper, you'll need to decide which newspaper you feel would be most appropriate to carry the obituary. Note that many major national newspapers only print the obituaries of celebrities so you might be better approaching a local one.
It's a good idea to check the style and layout that your chosen paper uses for its obituaries, as they will prefer it if your offering follows this. When deciding on the length of your obituary, bear in mind that newspapers charge by the word or column inch so check their rates before you start composing anything. If you want to write a lengthy tribute, ask the newspaper if they have any restrictions on article length.
Check the deadline so that you know when the newspaper will need your obituary. Ideally, you want it published a day or two before the funeral.
What to write about
There are a number of facts about the deceased person that are typically included in obituaries including:
- their full name (include their maiden name if appropriate)
- their date and place of birth
- where they went to school
- any accomplishments they achieved during their lifetime
- the job they did
- whereabouts in the country they were living at the time of their death
- the name of their spouse or partner, or parents in the case of a young person who has died
- the date, time, and venue of the funeral/memorial service and wake
- where any flowers or charitable donations should be sent
When the obituary is complete, always ask the deceased's next of kin to read over it and make any changes that they may ask for before you submit it to the newspaper.
In conclusion
Although writing a loved one's obituary can be an emotional process, it is an important way of paying tribute to the deceased and it should be considered an honour to be asked to write one. It's a good idea to keep a copy of the newspaper containing the obituary for the deceased's family or add a clipping of it to a scrapbook of memories as a keepsake.
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