Obituary Etiquette
An obituary not only notifies a community of the death of one of its members, it also memorializes the deceased and acknowledges the deceased's loved ones. By taking care to write a sensitive, factual and dignified obituary, we demonstrate respect for the deceased and his family.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identify Your Information Source
-
Find one source for obituary information, who likely be the deceased's spouse, child or closest relative and is likely the person who is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
What to Include
-
Include the deceased's full name/nickname, place of birth, high school and/or college, military service, brief career history, significant accomplishments, the places where she spent most of her life and where she was living at the time of death.
-
Who to Include
-
Mention the deceased's spouse, parents, siblings children and grandchildren, whether these people are alive or dead. If the deceased had a particularly large family, it is not necessary to name each grandchild or sibling.
Naming Relationships
-
If the deceased's family includes step-family members, ask your source how you should refer to these family members. Some will want you to preface the relationship with "step-", others might find that distinction offensive. If the deceased was in a long-term romantic relationship but unmarried, ask if "partner" is appropriate.
Cause of Death
-
Ask your source if he wants the cause of death listed. If not, words and phrases such as "suddenly" or "after a short/long illness" can be used.
-
References
- Photo Credit Public domain image
