Ideas for Writing a Memorable Obituary

Writing an obituary is just one of the necessary tasks that must be completed after someone passes away. Sometimes a family will choose one person to do the writing, while other families will make it a group effort. Your provider of cremation services near LaGrange, IL, can help you with writing it, as well as finding out where and how to publish it. An obituary serves as an announcement to the community of a person’s death, and it also provides a lasting official document that can act as a tribute to their memory.   

The first things you’ll need to include are your loved one’s basic personal details. These will include their name, place and date of birth, the names of their parents, their spouse, their children, and even their grandchildren. It’s up to you or the writer to decide how many people to include here. You may want to highlight where they went to school, if they had a long-time career, or if they spent any time serving in the military.   

Next, you can delve deeper and take a closer look at their hobbies and interests. How did they spend their time? Did they enjoy reading books, boating, riding their bike, or keeping a garden? Perhaps they had a passion for cooking or volunteering locally. Did they belong to a particular place of worship, or any other social groups in the community? Maybe they loved to travel all over the world, or spent time living in another country. Whatever details you find to be the most important to their life and memory are worth including in their obituary. People who have known them for years may learn something new about their friend who they have lost.   

Another idea to consider is to include a memorable story about the deceased. You can interview family and friends and find out what memories stand out. Perhaps they were known for saying a particular phrase, or they may have even had a nickname with an entertaining backstory. All these small details can contribute to a personal and meaningful written tribute to your loved one. 

If the funeral or memorial service will be open to the public, you may want to include the details about the time, date, and location where it will take place. That way, if there are people in the community that you don’t know or forget to contact, they can find the information. If your loved one wanted a memorial fund for a charity set up in their name, details for donating can also be included at the end of the obituary.   

By writing a personal and unique obituary, you are paying tribute to your loved one. Future generations may find it while doing genealogical research, and it will allow them to learn more about one of their ancestors, keeping their memory alive. Your provider of cremation services near LaGrange, IL, can help you take the next steps of publishing it to a local newspaper. You’ll be glad that you chose to pay homage to your loved one in this way, and your family and friends will be grateful to read cherished details about their loved one immediate need.