What is an obituary?

An obituary is a written announcement of someone’s death sometimes referred to as a funeral notice. 

What is the purpose of an obituary?

An obituary has always been a way to tell someone’s story and allow their memory to live on. It is also a way to let one’s community know about a death and make everyone aware of funeral arrangements. 

Is an obituary still needed in the digital age?

Yes, the shape and form of an obituary might have changed, but it’s a tradition that has carried through to the digital age. There are also plenty of newspapers still publishing obituaries like, local, national, church, industry and religious newspapers. 

Facebook is often used to announce someone’s death and pay tribute to their life. Yet an announcement like this is soon swallowed up by content streaming in from all directions and because anyone can post on Facebook, an obituary post might not be truthful or even accurate, unless we know and trust the person who has posted the information. 

Writing an obituary

Most obituaries contain information about a person’s death, time and place of death, cause of death, surviving relatives as well as funeral arrangements. Often space needs to be taken into consideration, but when this is not the case, an obituary can be a great tribute to your loved one’s life as well as a notice of their death. 

Obituaries

When space is an issue:

• Name
• Age
• Place of death
• Cause of death (optional)
• Place of death
• Picture

No word limit obituaries

When it comes to a word count, you are limited only by your imagination. Be personal, tell that story which makes you laugh, makes you happy, makes you sad. Tell people why you loved them, admired them, cared for them. Your story is your way of immortalising them so that they will never be forgotten. The best obituaries capture a person’s character and share who the person really was. In 2019 an obituary written by Monique for her father Joe Heller went viral. It was unlike any obituary written before and started a whole new trend of how we say goodbye. There is no right or wrong way only the way that feels right for you.

What should you not include in an obituary?

Don’t share any details that could offer scammers the details they might need to commit fraud. This could range from identity theft to fictitious life insurance scams to burglary. Be aware of the information you share online.

With Legal&Tax you’re not alone

Legal&Tax has a funeral plan to help handle funeral expenses, alleviating you of any financial stress or burden. This will allow you to honour and mourn your loved one in peace. Contact us for more information.

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You may also like to read our article on writing a meaningful eulogy.