A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Obituary
Just like the funeral service, the obituary offers a way to acknowledge losing a loved one, express the pain we feel after their loss and the joy brought to us as a result of their presence. The obituary also serves as a way of communicating to society the death of our loved one. All in all, the obituary will help in announcing various information such as visitation, funeral service, memorial, and burial ceremony.
Writing an obituary for a family member or loved one need to be approached with care and thought. The obituary should be presented in such a way that it will showcase the important events and traits of the deceased, and also show his/her impact on the family.
Unfortunately, the majority of the obituaries seen in the local newspaper, dailies, as well as over the internet today do not convey the contributions or personality of the dead in a meaningful way. They are prepared in the fog of grief, or amid haste. Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society, your exclusive provider of Fort Myers Funeral Homes brings you a step-by-step guide on how to write an obituary in a meaningful way.
Announcement of Death
An obituary should start with the name, age, and place of residence of the deceased. The time and place of death should also be included. The proper identifying statements should also be used to announce the fact of death. Common variations of the statement that can be used include ‘died’, ‘passed away’, ‘went to the Lord’, ‘surrounded by her family’, and so forth. Ensure that you use the identifying statement you feel comfortable with.
Biographical Sketch
The main word here is sketch. This is just to identify the difference between an obituary and a biography. An obituary is only a recounting of the significant qualities, events, and contributions of the deceased. The biographical sketch should include the various experiences and how the deceased connected to people’s lives. Ensure that it is short and precise.
Family
One of the most significant parts of an obituary is the listing of survivors as well as those that came before. Here, you need to mention all the important family members and relatives, including step-child or sibling.
In addition to that, you can list your family members and relatives with their first name. List the spouse’s first name using parenthesis, then followed with the surname. In case the couple is not yet married or the spouse uses a different surname, kindly indicate the surname of the partner in the parenthesis coupled with the first name. The most important thing is that the name of every important family member and relatives are not left out.
Service Times
Often times, local traditions will vary. Hence, the best thing to do is to consult the local newspapers to get an idea of service times at your Fort Myers Funeral Home. The vital information here includes time, place of service (Funeral homes in Fort Myers), place of burial, full date, the name of those in charge of the occasion, and so forth.
Special Messages
Special messages are usually included towards the end of an obituary. At times, it can be a short poem or prayer. Thist can help communicate something that could not be included in the body of the obituary.
Photos
Photos can be a nice reminder of the person we lost. It can also be a useful way to help the reader pick the person out of other obituaries in the newspaper or listing. However, ensure that you use a recent photo, if not, using a photo that date years back will only lose the value of identification.
There you have it! The above is a step-by-step guide to help you write an obituary. The purpose of the obituary is to acknowledge the passing of a loved one and celebrate the wonderful memories we once shared. By following these tips, you will be able to write an obituary in a meaningful way and don’t forget to call Baldwin Brothers, your premier Fort Myers Funeral Home, for more information!