How to Write an Obituary

Crafting a meaningful obituary can be a beautiful way to honor a loved one’s life and legacy. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create a heartfelt tribute, share tips on finding the perfect words, and highlight the best platforms—from newspapers to social media—to ensure your message reaches those who mattered most.

What is an Obituary?

The primary purpose of an obituary is to formally announce the death of an individual. Typically, an obituary will include basic details surrounding the death, such as when the person passed away, how old they were, and where they lived. Other details like basic family information and perhaps a short bio will often be included as well.

The other important purpose of an obituary is to share details about the memorial service, allowing family, friends, and the community to come together to pay their respects. It typically includes the date, time, and location of the service, as well as any special instructions, such as dress code, floral arrangements, or whether the family prefers donations to a chosen charity in lieu of flowers. This ensures everyone who wishes to attend has the necessary information to join in honoring the person’s life.

How to Write an Obituary?

When writing about the life of a loved one, it’s important to capture their essence, personality, and the impact they had on others. Here’s how you can guide the reader through this process:

1. Start with the basics: Begin with key details like their full name, birth date, and place, as well as the date and location of their passing. Including nicknames or maiden names can add a personal touch.

2. Highlight significant milestones: Share important life events, such as educational achievements, career highlights, and any military service. Mention accomplishments that were meaningful to them, including volunteer work, hobbies, or passions.

3. Capture their personality: Describe what made your loved one unique. Were they known for their sense of humor, kindness, or adventurous spirit? Including anecdotes or quotes can make this section more personal and relatable.

4. Focus on relationships: Talk about their relationships with family, friends, and even pets. Include the names of close relatives, such as spouses, children, grandchildren, and siblings. Sharing how they impacted the lives of others can be very touching.

5. Include memorable stories: Think of stories that capture their character—whether it’s a funny moment, a kind gesture, or an achievement they were proud of. These details help paint a vivid picture of their life.

6. Discuss their passions and interests: Whether they loved gardening, traveling, cooking, or spending time with family, including these details gives a fuller picture of who they were and what they enjoyed.

7. Name immediately family members. List relatives, both living and deceased. Include the full names of the deceased's parents, siblings, and children, as well as his or her spouse/partner. Also mention grandparents, aunts, uncles, and step-family members.

8. Conclude with details about the service. Conclude by providing essential information about any upcoming memorial services or celebrations of life. Include the date, time, and location, and specify whether the event is open to all or a private gathering for close family and friends. If there are any special requests, such as dress code, preferred charities for donations, or instructions about bringing flowers, be sure to include these as well. This helps guide those who wish to attend in honoring the loved one appropriately.

Where to Publish the Obituary?

Newspapers

• Local Newspapers:

  • Most local newspapers have obituary sections. You can contact them directly or submit the obituary through their website. This is a traditional and widely used method, especially for reaching people within a specific geographic area.

• National Newspapers:

  • For obituaries that need a broader reach, national newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post, or The Guardian offer obituary services. These papers often have dedicated sections on their websites for submitting obituaries.

Online

• Websites like Legacy.com, Tributes.com and Memoria.co specialize in online obituaries.

• These platforms often provide additional services like memorial pages, guest books, and photo galleries.

How does the Memoria Obituary Work?

We believe in creating interactive obituaries that allow you, your family, and friends to contribute collectively. Our mission is to make the obituary lively and engaging, ensuring that the memory of your loved one comes alive through the dedicated obituary page.

Our obituaries are designed to provide a comprehensive and meaningful tribute to your loved one. Here's a detailed breakdown of what they include:

1. Personal Information: This section allows you to include important details such as the full name, age, date of birth, and date of passing. You can also add information like nicknames, maiden names, and even a brief biography to help personalize the tribute.

2. The Obituary: Here, you have the opportunity to craft a heartfelt story that captures your loved one's life, personality, achievements, and relationships. This section allows you to share anecdotes, favorite memories, and the qualities that made them special, ensuring their legacy is honored.

3. Service and Funeral Events: This area provides space to include all the necessary details about upcoming services, such as the date, time, location, and any specific instructions or requests, like dress code or whether it's open to the public. You can also add information about other events, such as viewings, wakes, or celebrations of life, making it easy for family and friends to attend and pay their respects.

4. Donation Information: Many families prefer to honor their loved ones by encouraging donations to a chosen charity or cause in lieu of flowers. This section allows you to specify the charity or organization, along with instructions on how to donate, making it convenient for those who wish to contribute.

5. Publication Options: Finally, you have the flexibility to choose how the obituary is shared. You can publish it on our website, where it will be available for a wider audience, or keep it private, sharing the tribute only with family and friends. This ensures you have complete control over who can view and engage with your loved one's memorial.

These features make our obituary service both comprehensive and customizable, allowing you to create a tribute that truly reflects and honors your loved one’s life.

Get Started Now

• Go to https://memoria.co/obituaries

• Click on "Create an Obituary"

• Simply follow the steps 1 – 6 entering as much information as you want along the way, the choice is always yours.

• Publish your Obituary and Share with your family and friends [Step 6]

• Let everyone contribute to the Obituary by adding photos and memories!

For any help with Obituary creation, email support@memoria.co