An obituary is one of the most personal things you’ll ever write for someone or yourself.

It can be brief or eloquent, simple or humorous... as long as it expresses the sentiment you want, that’s all that matters.

The obituary is something that will live on forever memorializing the life of your loved one. Today, obituaries are even searchable online, and with that in mind, it’s no surprise people feel anxiety at the thought of having to write an obituary. It’s a big responsibility that people take seriously. If you find yourself in that position, try to not let the anxiety get the best of you. An obituary can actually help you reduce stress by helping you communicate with numerous people at once, and encourage comfort from your community in the wake of your loss. With the tips below writing an obituary will be easier than you imagined and maybe even a little therapeutic. 

What to Include in an Obituary

The first challenge is understanding what should and shouldn’t be included in an obituary. There are no rules that must be followed, however, there are some standard best practices. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s typically included in an obituary:

PERSON OR PET

• The deceased’s full name and age
• Acknowledgement of the passing.
• You don’t have to provide the details surrounding their death, but the obituary should first note that the individual passed. Some people want to be more transparent and share how their loved one died, and that's ok too!
• Date of the death.
• Where they lived, died, was born and grew up. 
• Big Life Accomplishments
• Names of surviving family members.
• Time and location for services (if having any)
• Special Memories
  
• You may also want to include a photo or two that will be published alongside the obituary. 

PERSON

• Education and work accomplishments.
• Military service and honors.
• Hobbies and interests.
• Memberships.

You can provide as many or as few details as you want in the obituary. Some people choose to keep the obituary brief and others simply want to keep the details to themselves. Here, it can be as long as you want! Online there is no charge for length, so go wild if you'd like!

The Tone is Up to You

Obituaries don’t have to be somber, serious or sad. They can be happy, funny and celebratory. Before choosing which tone to take it could help to think about your loved one and how they would have written their obituary. Just be careful to keep the obituary respectful if you do use a lighter tone. 

Write About What You Want Others to Remember

The most important reason to write an obituary is it captures the essence of your loved one’s life. What is it that you want your loved one to be remembered for? No matter what tone you take or the details you provide, readers should be left with a sense of who your loved one was and what made them special. 

And if you need more help...

Just shoot me an email. I'm here for you! themodernmortician@gmail.com