An obituary is a final written tribute to a loved one after they pass. Through the years obituaries, like final services themselves, have become less formal. While early obituaries were pretty much fact-based, today’s obituaries tell more of the story of a person’s life. It may include what and who was important to them and even address their hobbies and interests. There are still important details to include. Here are some tips on what to include in an obituary.
- The deceased’s full name, date and place of birth, and date of death. This is especially critical when a loved one has a more common last name. This initial information will assist the reader in identifying if the obituary is about a person they know.
- List of relatives and close friends. An obituary might include a list of relatives, both deceased and living, along with how they are related the deceased. This also helps the reader in identifying if the deceased is a relative of someone they may know.
- Community involvement. If a loved one was involved in his or her community, an obituary is an appropriate place to include that involvement. Perhaps they served on boards of local charities or civic groups. Maybe they were members of a veterans group or lodge. They may have even volunteered for various fundraisers or donated regularly to a certain cause.
- Hobbies and passions. This is an area where modern obituaries have really expanded. It has become more and more common for families to include a loved one’s interests in their obituaries, including crafts, hobbies and even favorite sports teams. If someone loved knitting items for family members, spent Sunday’s watching his beloved Bengals, or enjoyed traveling, it is completely appropriate to include that in an obituary. This allows you the opportunity to make the obituary more personal.
- Working life. Many people spend years and even decades working in the same area and even with the same company. For many, what they did for a living helps identify them and becomes a focal point of many of the social aspects of their life. While you don’t want an obituary to sound like a resume, acknowledging a person’s work life is certainly something to consider including in an obituary.
- An obituary should include how best to recognize the deceased. This can include how and where memorial contributions can be made.
- Details on final arrangements. Finally, an obituary should include any details the family would like to share about final arrangements. This of course, should include the name of the funeral home assisting with arrangements, any visiting hours, burial time and location, and any reception details. If services are intended to be private or to be held at a later date, that information should be also be listed.
It is extremely important that any information included in an obituary be accurate and well-thought out. The death of a loved one is a particularly fragile time for those involved, and sometimes the importance of how an obituary is written is understated. At the Cremation Society of Cincinnati, we will assist you in constructing an obituary that captures the spirit of your loved one.
The Cremation Society of Cincinnati operates our own private crematory. We can assist you through every step of planning final services and the cremation process. We will even come to your home for your convenience. In your time of need, we encourage you to contact us at the Cremation Society of Cincinnati.
