Minneapolis Funeral Homes Show Clients How to Write an Obituary in Just 6 Steps

Our friends at Minneapolis funeral homes warn that as you go through the funeral planning process, you may find yourself saddled with the responsibility of writing an obituary. You need to approach this with much care and thought, because regardless of whether you choose burial or cremation services Minneapolis ; the obituary should serve as a tribute to your departed loved one. The obituary serves to inform the wider community of your loved one’s passing, and to announce visitation, funeral service/memorial information and burial/cremation (or other form of disposition).

But don’t feel overwhelmed, says the funeral director of one of the leading Burnsville MN funeral homes : although planning a funeral is a taxing process, you can produce a fitting obituary if you follow the strategies below:

Foolproof Plan to Creating an Obituary that Honors Your Loved OneStep 1: Look for Samples in Your Local Paper

Take a look at your paper in your search for a guideline on writing an obituary, since most publications require that they be done in a particular style. Many funeral homes offer templates (the website of Henry W. Anderson Burnsville MN Funeral Homes immediately comes to mind). Your funeral home Burnsville MN, Richfield or Minneapolis may offer a printed obituary in the newspaper as part of their package, so inquire into this before you contact the newspaper.

The newspapers are likely to rework your obituary if you don’t follow their style, which could introduce errors into the final product, perhaps listing your loved one for Burnsville MN cremation services when you meant to say burial services provided by Richfield MN Funeral Homes.

Step 2: Include the Deceased’s Entire Name

Middle names, nicknames and extensions such as Sr., Jr. and III should be included. For example, David George Harrison III. Some people put a maiden name in parenthesis.

Step 3: Include Facts About the Deceased

These facts would include the deceased’s date of birth and date of death, where he or she was living at the time of death, and the names of key survivors. The date, time and place of the memorial and burial service should also be placed here if they’re open to the public.

Step 4: Locate a Photo

A well-cropped, clear headshot of the person should be included: one that will show up well in black and white. You can email this to the newspaper, or bring one in to their office, so they can scan it for you.

Step 5: Write Down Some Additional Information

You can write further information about the individual after you’ve recorded the essentials, which will give a better understanding into the type of person he or she was. You may include things such as: the names and residences of children, and names of grandchildren. Also include the names of his or her parents, information about education and vocations, hobbies, and pets’ names.

Step 6: Gather Some Anecdotes

The best obituaries aren’t just an announcement of death but a brief account of the deceased’s life. Try to show the person’s way of life with intimate thoughts, noteworthy details, and other fascinating information. Give specific examples of how they made a difference to others.

Confirm all the information in the obituary with another member of the family. Have this family member verify correct spelling of names, those who should be mentioned, dates, and details regarding the funeral service/memorial. If you run into any trouble, seek help from your funeral director. He or she should be able to give you professional advice on the correct way to write an obituary.