How to Write an Obituary

After the loss of a loved one, grieving family members must handle the planning of the celebration of life. The decisions and tasks can often be overwhelming. Along with planning the funeral, writing an obituary is one of the details that must be addressed. Even for a seasoned writer, this can be a challenging task.

The following tips may be helpful if you are writing an obituary for a loved one who just passed away. Step-by-step instructions on how to write a great obituary are provided here.

Tips for Writing a Touching Obituary

Finding the right words to say in an obituary can be hard. You want to celebrate the life of your loved one and share information with others. There is so much to say that it is hard to narrow it down. Here are a few tips to help guide you through the process:

• Start by Announcing the Death: Include the name and a brief description of your loved one. Include their age, information regarding the day of their passing, and where they were when they passed. This can typically be handled in one to two sentences.
• Share General Biographical Information: Next, you want to include some biographical information about your loved one. This can include things like their date and location of birth, marriage and family information, accomplishments, and work history. You want to get as much meaning in as possible.
• Make it Personal: As you are writing, capture the spirit of your loved one. Include information about what they were like. You can share information about their hobbies or funny characteristics. Or, you can include a quote or phrase they often said.
• List Family Members and Funeral Information: Close the obituary by listing the names of surviving family members and general funeral information. If the family has specific wishes, such as donations to a cause instead of flowers, list that information here as well.

Capturing Your History for the Future

As each day goes by, we risk losing the living legacy belonging to the elder generation of our families. There is great wisdom in the individual tales, struggles, and lessons learned of the people who helped create the world as we know it today.

The Legacy Stories Archive allows you the opportunity to preserve family history by securely publishing photos, videos, and your life stories with your chosen family and friends. This information can serve as a reminder of your living legacy and a guide to those needing to plan your celebration of life.