Obituary Writing Guide:

1. Gather essential information: Full name, date of birth, date of passing, city or town of residence, and cause of death.
2. Craft a brief, compassionate opening sentence with the person's name, age, and date of passing.
3. Provide a concise overview of the person's life, highlighting key events, interests, and passions.
4. List notable accomplishments, awards, and contributions.
5. Include surviving and predeceased family members' names, along with family relationships.
6. Share funeral or memorial service details, including date, time, location, and special requests.
7. Conclude with a heartfelt sentiment or message, expressing gratitude and signing with the family's name or spokesperson.
8. Proofread for accuracy, clarity, and respectful language.
9. Choose where to publish (newspaper, funeral home website, social media. See below for more information), and share with friends and family.
10. Preserve a copy for records and consider creating a memorial scrapbook or digital archive.

Publishing the Obituary

Options for Publication:

• Traditional choice: Local newspapers.
• Alternative: Websites allowing you to create personalized memorial pages. Two options to create FREE online memorial pages are Funeralocity and Keeper.

Newspapers:

• Funeral home assistance: They can help place an obituary in a local newspaper.
• Consider hometown publication: If your loved one had recently moved, contact their hometown newspaper alongside the local one.some text
  • Pricing models for newspapers:some text
    • Some newspapers publish obituaries for free but edit and condense them.
    • Most charge fees based on length and print the exact wording you provide.
    • Expect costs of $100 or more for an average obituary.

Here is a list of 2800 publications to list the obituary (online available).

You can also publish a free online obituary here.

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