Writing a Death or Funeral Notice

While our funeral planners are here to help and will ensure notices are placed in the newspaper of your choice, you may wish to write the announcement yourself; some people find the act of writing an obituary for their loved one is a therapeutic tool that helps them cope with difficult emotions associated with their loss and grief. 

If you’ve chosen to compose the announcement yourself, but you’re unsure where to begin, we hope these tips will assist you as you compose the final goodbye to your loved one: 

• Begin with your loved one’s full name, as well as the dates of his/her birth and death;
• If you’ve opted for a long-form obituary, consider including significant events that took place throughout the life of the deceased  (education, marriage, the birth of children, etc.) It is here that you may also wish to include some of your loved one’s interests, such as music, art, or sports. 
• Include survivors’ and predeceased information, including spouses, children, grandchildren, etc.
• The scheduled services (include times, locations, etc.);
• The names of any charities you wish for friends and family to donate to in the name of the deceased.
• Once you’ve written the first draft, edit it for mistakes, and then send it to trusted friends and family to review. 
• Once they have had their input, make the necessary changes, and then edit once again. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and be aware of sentence structure.