Layout of an Obituary

Honor a loved one with a well-written obituary.

Writing an obituary for a loved one who has recently passed can be daunting. There is a limited amount of space to summarize an entire well-lived life. Despite the emotional task involved, using a helpful layout to highlight the most important aspects of your loved one's life will take the stress out of writing a worthy memorial.

Basic Information

The first part of an obituary will include the deceased's name, year born and year passed, age, residence (often the name of the town or city), date of passing and location of death. The cause of death is optional in an obituary, as are the circumstances such as surrounded by family or passed suddenly at home.

Summary of Life

A summary of the decendent's life will include date of birth, names of parents and any family members who have pre-deceased the individual. A life summary often will include optional information, such as places of employment, education background, places the deceased had lived, clubs or organizations he was involved in, awards, recognitions received and military service. It is common also to list activities the individual enjoyed, the name of a church or religious organization with which he was active and any other details that may have been important to the person or to the family.

List of Family or Friends

An obituary will list the deceased's surviving family members, including parents (if still living), spouse or fiance'(e), and children and their spouses. The city and state for parents, spouse and children are typically noted. Other family members who may be mentioned include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews or cousins, in-laws, close companions or special friends. If the deceased had a beloved pet, the name of the animal also may be noted.

Funeral Arrangements

Dates and calling hours for a funeral home viewing will be listed, as well as the details for the funeral or memorial service. Details will include the date, times and locations of the funeral home, church and cemetery, if necessary. If there are no calling hours and the service is private, such information should be provided.

Memorial Contributions

It is common now to list a charitable or religious organization or memorial fund to make donations in the deceased's name, often in lieu of flowers. The charitable organization may be one the individual was involved in or may be associated with the deceased's illness or cause of death, such as the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association or a local charity. The memorial contribution will include the name of the nonprofit and an address with which to send donations.

References

• Obituary Guide: Obituary Template and Obituary Sample Format
• Elegant Memorials: How to Write an Obituary