Writing An Obituary Essay

Writing an obituary can be challenging. In addition to grappling with an enormous loss and planning a funeral or burial service, you may be at a loss to find the words that properly describe your loved one’s best traits.

It helps to view an obituary as a respectful way to honor someone special and present them in the best light possible. An obituary, at its most basic, contains biographical details about the deceased, including the person’s complete name, dates of birth and death, and surviving relatives’ names and relationships. It may also include marriage information, schools attended, professional details, and military experience.

Mentioning the deceased’s personal hobbies, though, is probably the best way to really highlight their personality in their obituary. Consider all of the traits that made your loved one unique. Did they have a passion for an important cause or even an interest in cooking or mountain climbing? Perhaps being a

You can even include the organization’s information in the obituary. In some cases, family members may prefer monetary offerings in lieu of floral arrangements. A brief message, such as, “The family appreciates any financial assistance for the funeral services,” is appropriate.

If you’re holding a public funeral, it’s appropriate to include the date, funeral home location, and time of the service; if it’s private, make a note the burial services, cremation, or funeral (or all) will not be open to the public. Ideally, the obituary should be published a couple of days prior to any type of service. This allows out-of-town guests to make travel plans.

Finally, read the obituary out loud. Does it sound natural? Does it do justice to your loved one? While it’s difficult, writing an obituary is also an honor, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to say memorialize someone important to