Preparing An Obituary - Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes (2024)

Survivors and Preceded in death by

It is traditional to include names of family members, both survivors and those who have already passed away. How you choose to do this is a personal choice to be made by your family. Usually people include names of a spouse, parents, children (with any spouse’s names listed in parenthesis), grandchildren and great grandchildren. You may choose to list grandchildren and great grandchildren individually by name, or simply include the number of each. Typically siblings and their spouses names are also included. Survivors are generally listed first, followed by any preceded in death names you would like to include. This section can be personalized and may include important friends or significant people in the deceased’s life, even if they are not family.

Preparing An Obituary - Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes (2024)

FAQs

Is there a template for an obituary? ›

A simple short obituary template

[Full name], [age], of [where they lived], passed away on [date of death] from [cause of death]. They were predeceased by [list of family members who died before them], and they left behind [list of their family members who are still alive].

What not to put in an obituary? ›

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Writing an Obituary
  1. Avoid Making the Obituary About You. ...
  2. Don't Focus Just on Death. ...
  3. Listing People Who Were Appreciated. ...
  4. Avoid Clichés. ...
  5. Abbreviations. ...
  6. Don't Over Describe the Funeral.

What are the final words on an obituary? ›

Concluding Message

In the conclusion of the obituary, special requests may be made such as, “in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to…” or “Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at General Hospital for…” Some families make the final line a dedication honoring their loved one.

What is proper etiquette for an obituary? ›

Obituary Guidelines
  • Deceased's full name, including well-known nickname, (if any) followed by a comma and age at death. (You do not need to say “age”.) ...
  • Residence (name of the city) at death. ...
  • Day and date of death.
  • Place of death (if appropriate). ...
  • Cause of death (if appropriate).

What is the free app to make an obituary? ›

MyObits offers obituary creation and sharing, as well as announcements for funerals or memorials and lets you order flowers to send your condolences from the app. Write an obituary that says everything you need about your loved one's life without breaking the bank. MyObits is here to help.

How to make an obituary online for free? ›

How to Make an Obituary Online With an Obituary Generator
  1. Select an Obituary Generator Tool.
  2. Log In To Gather.
  3. Navigate to The Loved One's Organize Page.
  4. Select The 'Complete Obituary' Task.
  5. Verify The Loved One's Important Information.
  6. Add Additional Details About Their Life.
  7. Save, Copy, and Print The Completed Obituary.
Sep 21, 2023

Do you put last names in obituary? ›

The first paragraph of the obituary should include the deceased person's full name, including any nicknames they may have used, their age, date and place of death. Some people choose to include cause of death, but this is optional depending on how much information you would like to share.

What is a good short obituary example? ›

[Full Name], aged [age of the deceased], passed away peacefully on [date of death], at [location of death]. He/she was born on [date of birth], in [birthplace], to [names of parents]. He/she was a proud resident of [city of residence] and was a 1975 graduate of Holy Cross High School.

Should you include birthday in an obituary? ›

Always mention the deceased's name and last name, including their birthday to confirm any reader's doubt whether it is related to the person they're thinking of or not. The city and town of residence at the time of death. Always include the town or city of residence at the time of death.

What is the most common last words before death? ›

Ms McFadden is often around death due to her job and revealed that the most common thing people say right before they die is 'I love you,' and that they often call out to their mom or dad, who have usually already passed away.

What is the first line of an obituary? ›

Announce the death

Provide the name and a very brief description, the age of the deceased, and the day of passing. You can probably squeeze all of this information into one sentence. For example: On Monday, September 4, 2017, John Doe, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 74.

How long after death do you write an obituary? ›

Publishing an obituary is a time-sensitive process–you should try to have it written and posted within a week of the deceased's passing. This goes for obituaries published both online and in print. If the obituary includes funeral details, you must publish it at least three days before the funeral.

What does it mean when a name is in parentheses in an obituary? ›

If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

What is the order of family in an obituary? ›

When you list the survivors, make sure that you list them in order of closest relation to the deceased: spouse, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents, and siblings. When you are listing a relative, make sure to include their first name, their spouse's first name in brackets and then their last name.

How do you end a eulogy? ›

If you're unsure how to end your eulogy, finish with a simple goodbye, or a thank you for the memories you shared. You might choose to use traditional phrases like 'rest in peace' or 'sleep well'. Or you can use something less formal, like a greeting or joke you used to share with the person who has died.

How do I create a simple obituary? ›

Writing an Obituary
  1. Their age upon death.
  2. Birthday.
  3. Birthplace.
  4. A list of the surviving relatives.
  5. Date of death.
  6. The location (city/state) where they died.
  7. Details about the funeral service: date, time, place.
  8. Where the person lived.

How do I make my own obituary? ›

Here's a guide on how to make a funeral obituary:
  1. Gather information.
  2. Write a compelling introduction.
  3. Provide biographical information.
  4. Mention surviving family members.
  5. Include service details.
  6. Conclude with a meaningful tribute.
  7. Review and revise.

Does Google Docs have obituary template? ›

Browse Templates: In Google Docs, click on “Template Gallery” and search for “funeral” or “memorial” to find a suitable template. Choose a Template: Select a template that resonates with your loved one's style and personality. Customize: Replace the template's sample text and images with your own content.

How do you create a obituary program in Word? ›

How to Make a Funeral Program in Word
  1. Open Microsoft Word on your computer.
  2. Choose a Template that suits your preferences and click on it to open.
  3. Customize the Template to personalize the program. ...
  4. You can insert Images of the deceased and their favorite photo, a portrait, or a collage of pictures.

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