Obituary Wording Sample

How to write an obituary step-by-step? What is the obituary layout?

When you are asked to write an obituary for a person dear to you that has recently passed away, this is both a great honor as well as a great responsibility. The appointed person, how hard it might be, also might go through a difficult time, depending how close he or she was with the deceased person. The obituary you create must show the respect that he or she deserved, and it will be read and heard by many, many people. Often obituaries are published in the newspapers and on the internet far into the future. It will be read by family members, loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and many others who are simply interested in reading about neighbors who have passed away. For most writers, the obituary will be the most important piece people will keep and will remember the person by. It might be the hardest thing they will ever will do.

Obituary outline

The following headings are meant as a general guide that families may or may not wish to include. Make sure that you have considered everything that is usually covered, then select what you would like to include, and also decide what order you would like to use.

NAME / ANNOUNCEMENT

Full name of the deceased, including nickname.
Age at death
Residence (for example, the name of the city) at death
Day and date of death (remember to include the year)
Place of death
Cause of death

LIFE

Date of birth
Place of birth
Names of parents
Childhood: siblings, stories, schools, friends
Marriage(s): date of, place, name of spouse
Education: school, college, university and other
Designations, awards, and other recognition
Employment: jobs, activities, stories, colleagues, satisfactions, promotions, union activities, frustrations,
Places of residence
Hobbies, sports, interests, activities, and other enjoyment
Charitable, religious, fraternal, political, and other affiliations; positions held
Achievements
Disappointments
Unusual attributes, humour, other stories
FAMILY
Survived by (and place of residence):
Spouse
Children (in order of date of birth, and their
spouses)
Grandchildren
Great-grandchildren
Great-great-grandchildren
Parents
Grandparents
Siblings (in order of date of birth)
Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
Friends
Pets (if appropriate)
Predeceased by (and date of death):
Spouse
Children (in order of date of birth)
Grandchildren
Siblings (in order of date of birth)
Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
Pets (if appropriate)

SERVICE

Day, date, time, place
Name of officiant, pallbearers, honorary pallbearers,
other information
Visitation information if applicable: day, date, time, place
Reception information if applicable: day, date, time, place
Other memorial, vigil, or graveside services if applicable:
day, date, time, place
Place of interment
Name of funeral home in charge of arrangements
Where to call for more information (even if no service
planned)

END

Memorial funds established
Memorial donation suggestions, including addresses
Thank you to people, groups, or institutions
Quotation or poem
Three words that sum up the life

Despite the above factors, most people who are called upon to compose an obituary are utterly unprepared to do so. And while there is a growing list of resources to support the novice obituary author, there is still a profound lack of practical, helpful, easy-to-use assistance. This obituary template is prepared to help people who are called upon to create an obituary. It is designed to provide practical support in an easy-to-follow and use manner. Examples are provided when they are appropriate.

Please note that all of the following steps do not have to be included. If all of the steps are included, it constitutes an exceptional obituary. Many times, an obituary must be much, much shorter due to any number of factors; including the inability to contact friends and relatives from early years. Provide the readers of the obituary you write with whatever you can. It comes in Microsoft Office format or Google Docs format, is ready to be tailored to your personal needs.

Download this Funeral Obituary template now to help you getting started! We wish you strength.

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DISCLAIMER
Nothing on this site shall be considered legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is established.

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