How to Write an Obituary for a Parent

Many people dread the thought of having to write an obituary for a loved one, especially a parent. But in some ways the process may actually help you as you remember who your parent was and what he did throughout his life. If you find yourself writing an obituary for a parent, embrace the opportunity to capture his most memorable moments on paper to share with the world.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start with a heading at the top of the page that includes her name, date of birth, date of death and city of residence.

2. Add a description of his life's accomplishments, especially those of which your parent was most proud. An obituary can be a miniature eulogy so include information about favorite hobbies, occupation, club memberships or any affiliations he had that were meaningful to him.

3. Include a paragraph naming other deceased family members. Name her parents, siblings, children and grandchildren that preceded her in death.

4. List the names of those close family members that survived your parent's death. Include his spouse, children, grandchildren and your parent's siblings.

5. Close the obituary with any funeral arrangements there may be. If there are services of any type describe what, where and when. If there are no services, make that clear so people know what to expect. Otherwise your phone will be ringing off the hook with people asking over and over again what the arrangements are.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for input from your siblings or surviving parent. When going through an emotional time, it's easy to forget names or spellings. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by leaving them out or misspelling their name.
• If you're not sure how to get started, look in the newspaper at other obituaries to see what you do and don't like. You can also talk to the representative from the funeral home for ideas.