How to Write an Obituary for Free
When a loved one dies, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities involved in preparing a respectful send off. Writing a well thought-out obituary can be a cathartic release, however, and a great way to reflect on a life well-lived. Some newspapers and freelancers offer paid obituary writing services, but many individuals choose to write their own obituaries for free.
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Instructions
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Decide who is the best person to write the obituary. When you opt not to go with a paid obituary writer, choosing among several people who were close to the deceased can be a tricky proposition. However, it is important to concentrate on two main factors when choosing the writer: Think about who knew the person best, and who has the most writing ability. Often, the responsibility of writing the obituary falls to the spouse if the person was married, or to a parent if the deceased was unmarried.
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Talk with the people the deceased was close to. Although it stands to reason that the person who writes the obituary knew plenty about the life of the deceased, it is always advantageous to research the parts of their life that may have been foreign to the writer. A key detail is to look into times of the deceased's life that the writer was not present for; talking to people who were there at the time may provide the loving details that make the obituary special.
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Check the obituary requirements of the paper that the obituary is intended for. Many newspapers require that obituaries include certain details or leave out others; to facilitate a smooth publication process, it is important to follow the rules.
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Condense your obituary. Concentrate on the most important facts and anecdotes in order to get across a compelling but short portrait of the life your loved one lived. Make sure to include the most important facts, but try to limit anecdotes and stories to a minimum.
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Revise your obituary. Have a friend or family member check over the obituary to make sure that there are no grammatical errors present in the text. Make sure that your obituary is readable and honors the memory of the deceased.
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Remember to include funeral details or memorial arrangements. Many people in the community may find out about the death by reading the obituary and may wish to attend the funeral, if it has not already occurred.
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