How to Write Your Mother's Obituary

Writing an obituary for your mother can be emotionally straining. This guide will help make that process a little easier and hopefully a little less painful.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pencil
• Paper
• Old newspaper
• Telephone

1. Gather up some old newspapers and head to the obituary page. Read several obituaries to get an idea of how they are written and in what format. Most obituaries start off with the name, where they are from, and how they passed away. One of the last pieces of information is the surviving family members.
2. Get you pen and paper ready and write yourself an outline. You can do it in any fashion you like, but here is a simple guideline: 1. Name, age, town. 2. Cause of death. 3. Church attended. 4. Brief history (things the person is remembered for, accomplishments, etc. 5. Surviving family and 6. Funeral times and locations.
3. Now you will want to fill in your outline. When completing step 4. I suggest you pick up your telephone and call your closest relatives and maybe even some of your mom's friends. Chat with them awhile and find out what was most important to them about your mom. Try to include those things in this step. Ask yourself, "What would my Mom want to be remembered for?" Write the answer as if you were talking to a stranger.
4. Have another family member read over your rough draft. Make any corrections or additions based on their recommendations. It may even be helpful to have someone outside of your family proof-read the obituary to make sure that it reads well and contains enough details.
5. Decide which newspaper or newspapers you want the obituary listed in. Contact them to find out the fees and then take it over to their office so you can be sure it will get in the paper as soon as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a computer and an Internet connection you can type up your obituary and email it to the editor of the newspaper. Make sure you can pay the fee electronically first.
• This is an emotional time which is why it is so important to get your obituary proofread. The obituary isn't really to be written for you, but for all who know your Mom. Make sure you get some advice and collaborate with family members.