An obituary is a short piece of writing that gives a brief biography of a loved one. Traditionally an obituary was placed in a newspaper and served as a way to communicate the news of a death to the local community. Often it can contain useful information about the funeral service as well. Nowadays you can also publish obituaries online, which gives more people access to writing an obituary for their loved ones, without the limitation of a newspaper, which often has a tight word count. Funeral notices can also be written and placed in local papers, which offer an easy way to share information about the funeral to the local community, and friends and family.
What is Included in an Obituary?
Obituaries usually contain the basic information about a person’s life, such as their date of birth, and their date of passing. They can also talk about anything of special interest that a person has achieved during their life, for example, work done in the local community. The obituary may mention the family that they leave behind and can end with the funeral arrangements. A longer online obituary can contain more details about the person’s life.
What is an Example of an Obituary?
An example of a very brief obituary would be as follows: “John Smith was born in Huddersfield in 1950, he sadly passed away at home on 2nd March 2024, surrounded by his loving family. John was an ardent railway enthusiast, who led a very successful fundraising campaign to restore the old railway buildings in Little Russet. Thanks to John’s tireless work, these buildings are now open to the public. John is survived by his wife Mary, their daughter Samantha, and 3 grandchildren. The funeral will be held at St Chad’s, Little Russet at 11 am on 13th April 2024, with refreshments afterwards in the village hall. No flowers please, but donations to The Little Russet Railway Restoration Project.”
Why Are Obituaries Important?
An obituary has two important functions. Firstly, it acts as a way to communicate the death of a person to the local community and can be used to give details about the funeral. Secondly, it gives the person writing the obituary a chance to process their grief, to think about the impact of their loved one’s life, and to celebrate it.
Where to Find Obituaries?
Traditionally obituaries were found in local and national newspapers. However, with the rise of the digital world, more and more people are writing online obituaries. Online obituaries can be posted on social media, which can be beneficial if you want to share the obituary and the news with an extended circle of people. If you are writing an obituary, it is worth considering who you want to read the obituary, to help you decide where would be the best place to publish it. Organisations and clubs will often share obituaries of their important members, which may be focused on their achievements within that world.
Who Writes the Obituary?
Normally an obituary is written by someone who was very close to the deceased, often a family member. However, some people choose to write their own obituaries. This can be a useful way to process having a terminal condition, or simply a way to reflect on one’s own life as it draws to an end. An obituary could also be written by someone who was involved in the same interests as the deceased.
How to Write an Obituary
Start with the basic facts about the individual. When and where they were born, when and where they died. Then consider the most important things in the person’s life. What did they spend their life doing? Were they successful in business? Did they do a lot for charity? Were they involved in the local community? Next speak about their family, who they leave behind. If you want to share the funeral arrangements, the obituary is an excellent place to do so. You can add the place and date for the funeral. People often mention flowers here as well. If you would rather only have family flowers, then say so. You can always suggest your loved one’s favourite charity for donations as an alternative to flowers.
How Much Does it Cost to Put an Obituary in a Local Paper?
Pricing will vary according to the publication. You can put a funeral notice in your local paper, which will normally be charged like classified advertising, with standard sizes and placements. Some papers will charge by the word, but most charge by the number of lines printed. The day of the week can also affect the cost. Different newspapers have different processes regarding obituaries, so it is always best to contact the funeral director who will be able to speak to the newspaper and provide you with a cost.
NC Funeral Directors Are Here to Help
We know that the process of organising a funeral when you are grieving, is incredibly difficult. This is why our family is here to support your family, during this time. Spending time writing an obituary for your loved one, can be an important part of the grieving process, and can help you to reflect on their life well-lived. We understand that a funeral is a reflection of life, so we will support you in creating the ideal funeral to represent the life of your loved one. Speak to the compassionate and knowledgeable team at NC Funeral Directors today, on 01253 420 450