Tips on Writing a Paid Obituary

How do I write a paid obituary?

The following is a guideline only. You know the person best and need to decide what applies and what does not. Ideally the obituary accurately reflects, not just statistical information, but actually gives readers a feel for who the person really was.

In the first paragraph include the following information:
Name
Age
City of residence
Date of death
Place of death
Cause or suspected cause of death

In the second section include the following information:
Date of birth
Birthplace
Parent’s names
Educational accomplishments
Military service
Which war or conflict they served in
Where stationed if overseas
Marriage(s)
Residential history (where they lived and when)

The next section is who the person really is and what they may have accomplished. This is the area that can readily be personalized by hobbies, favorite activities, and so forth:
Post high school education
Degrees earned
Licenses held

Next paragraph includes:
Work history and work affiliations

Next paragraph includes:
Church membership and organizations within the church
Civic memberships
Fraternal memberships
Club memberships
(With all of the above include any positions or offices the
person may have held)
Hobbies
Other interests

The next section is a list of survivors in appropriate order
(Include spouse and city and state of residence):
Spouse
Children
Grandchildren
Great-grandchildren
Great-great-grandchildren
Parents
Grandparents
Brothers
Sisters
Nephews
Nieces
Cousins
Friends
List family that preceded him/her in death, spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, brothers and sisters.

Next section is for the service:
Include day, date, time and place of service
Name of officiant and their title
Place of burial or entombment