The death of a family member or friend is a very sad event for us. Dwelling on the death of a loved one can make it impossible for us to get up and live a normal life, and some people who are overly sad can even fall into extreme depression and loneliness. However, we need to pick ourselves up because there are still many important things waiting for us to deal with. With the development of society nowadays, funeral forms have become more and more diverse and personalized. However, there are some traditional funeral customs that need to be preserved. Writing an obituary is one of the most important things.
What is Obituary?
An obituary (obit for short) is an article about a recently deceased person. Although obituaries tend to focus on positive aspects of the subject's life, this is not always the case. According to Nigel Farndale, the Obituaries Editor of The Times: "Obits should be life-affirming rather than gloomy, but they Obits should be life-affirming rather than gloomy, but they should also be opinionated, leaving the reader with a strong sense of whether the subject lived a good life or bad; whether they were right or wrong in the (Quoted from Wikipedia) Obituaries usually contain detailed information about the deceased, such as the date of death, cause of death, photographs, a short biography, funeral details, surviving and deceased family members.
Differences between an elegy, an obituary, and a eulogy
Elegy: It is a poem or a song. It is used to express grief for the deceased, usually in a sad and mournful tone.
Obituary: An obituary is a notice of the death of a deceased person given to loved ones and friends.
Eulogy: An address at a memorial service is a very good way to express condolences to a deceased loved one. It is a speech given in memory of the deceased and is usually given in a public manner at a funeral or memorial service. Several friends and relatives may take turns giving speeches at the funeral, and there are no restrictions on the content of the speech. The speaker may talk about the deceased's life, share stories about themselves and the deceased, etc.
Why do we need to write an obituary？
1. Announce the death to the community
When you announce the death of a deceased loved one to your village/community, more people will express their condolences and reach out to you.
2. Facilitate future generations to learn about the life of their ancestors
Obituaries are a great way for future generations to learn about their ancestors. Through obituaries, future generations can learn about the life of their ancestors. This reading experience will create a wonderful connection between them and each other.
3. Memorials for the deceased
When your loved one dies, writing an obituary is a great way to remember them. When you write an obituary, you unconsciously recall the life of the deceased and try to describe his life in short words. His age, hobbies, work, and personality can all be reflected in the obituary.
Who writes the obituary and where to publish it?
In the past, some local newspapers could usually publish an obituary for free, listing the date and time of death and the location of the funeral. Newspapers were the primary source of obituaries and had strict requirements for the format of obituaries. If a local newspaper is not available, it can be posted in a post office or store window. Due to the limited space available in newspapers, obituaries published in newspapers usually contain only a brief description of the deceased. However, most newspapers now charge a fee for publishing obituaries, so if you want to place an obituary in a newspaper, you can contact some local newspapers. Of course, there are other places where obituaries can be posted such as memorial websites, social media Ins, Facebook, funeral home websites, etc. One of the advantages of posting an obituary online is that you can interact with the people who see it. The friends of the deceased can also comment and retweet the obituary when they see it.
How to Write a perfect obituary?
1. Decide on the tone
Determine whether the obituary should have a formal or informal tone, depending on It's essential to strike a balance between conveying factual information and capturing their unique spirit. It's essential to strike a balance between conveying factual information and capturing their unique spirit.
2. Announce the death
Announce the full name, age, place of birth, date of death, and place of death of the deceased. If you don't want to share the cause of death, you can avoid mentioning it in the obituary.
3. Life events
Share important aspects of the person's life, such as their background, education, career, and accomplishments. Highlight their unique qualities, values, and interests. Mention any significant contributions they made to their community, profession, or society as a whole. Include anecdotes or stories that reflect their character and make them come alive on the page.
4. Photos
Include at least one photo of the deceased. Usually include a recent photo, as well as a family photo or a photo of a person from earlier years.
5. List family members
Acknowledge the immediate family members of the deceased, such as spouses, children, siblings, and parents. If the person had a large extended family, you can choose to include the names of key relatives or simply state that they are survived by many loving family members. If the person had a large extended family, you can choose to include the names of key relatives or simply state that they are survived by many loving family members.
6. Share funeral or memorial details
Provide information about the funeral, memorial service, or any other events to honor the person's life. Include the date, time, and location, as well as any specific requests from the family, such as charitable donations or preferred methods of remembrance. You can also prepare some memorial jewelry for people who attend the funeral, such as a custom urn necklace and a locket necklace with the photo of the deceased one and words you want to engrave on the back of the necklace.
Writing a perfect obituary is not the only thing you can do, there are various things you need to do memorize the decease of the loved one.
