Standard Examiner Obituariy ≡ Fill Out Printable PDF Forms Online (2024)

FAQs

What does a good obituary look like? ›

Obituary Example: Announcing the Funeral

[Full name], [age], of [where they lived], sadly left us on [date of death] due to [cause of death]. They leave behind [list of surviving family members]. A service will be held in their honor at [time] on [date] at [location].

Most obituaries are around 200 words long, which means using as few words as possible to avoid going over the word count. It's a good idea to make a plan before you write to ensure you stick to the most important points about the person who died.

When you list the survivors, make sure that you list them in order of closest relation to the deceased: spouse, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents, and siblings. When you are listing a relative, make sure to include their first name, their spouse's first name in brackets and then their last name.

When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.

Concluding Message

In the conclusion of the obituary, special requests may be made such as, “in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to…” or “Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at General Hospital for…” Some families make the final line a dedication honoring their loved one.

The closing paragraph is typically rather short and includes details regarding services or gatherings, as well as any requests regarding donations being made to charities or organizations that are meaningful to the deceased.

How soon after death do you write an obituary? ›

Publishing an obituary is a time-sensitive process–you should try to have it written and posted within a week of the deceased's passing. This goes for obituaries published both online and in print. If the obituary includes funeral details, you must publish it at least three days before the funeral.

This reading may be performed by a family member, a close friend, or a designated individual. The purpose of the obituary reading is to share important details about the deceased person's life, allowing everyone present to reflect on their accomplishments, relationships, and contributions.

[Full Name], aged [age of the deceased], passed away peacefully on [date of death], at [location of death]. He/she was born on [date of birth], in [birthplace], to [names of parents]. He/she was a proud resident of [city of residence] and was a 1975 graduate of Holy Cross High School.

There is no one-size-fits-all obituary format, and there are a few different types of obituary templates. Some of the many examples you might find online are: Newspaper obituary template. Fill-in-the-blank obituary template.

If you like to be technical, names should be listed as follows: first name, spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname (ex: Tom (Sarah) Johnson). If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

“Absolutely beautiful! I am so grateful to you!” “Thank you for doing such a wonderful job capturing my dad in your writing. Your words will always be remembered.”

Typically, the photos that are used for obituaries or perched next to the casket at the funeral home are formal. The picture might be professionally-taken or posed. When deciding on an obituary photo, try to ensure that your loved one's face is shown clearly and that they are the only person in the photo.