Everything You Need to Know About Writing an Obituary

Writing an obituary can feel overwhelming and emotional. It is for this reason that understanding how to write one is crucial. Oklahoma obits are notifications for the friends and family of the deceased individual. It typically states the name, age, history, family, and funeral information. It allows friends and family to honor the deceased’s memory. Steps for composing an obituary are gathering facts, writing the life story, mentioning family, service information, soft words, spell-checking, and placing them in newspapers or on the internet.

What Is an Obituary?

An obituary is a public notice of the deceased on a website, newspaper, or online. An obituary typically includes:

  • The full name of the person
  • Their age at death
  • Their date and place of birth
  • The date and place of death
  • A short life story
  • Names of surviving family members
  • Details about the funeral or memorial services

Obituaries help inform friends, family, and the community about the loss and celebrate the individual’s existence and accomplishments.

Benefits of Writing Obituaries

There are many good reasons to write an obituary:

Honors the Person’s Life

Publishing an obituary shows genuine care and deep love for the departed person. This writing brings to light what their life consisted of.

Helps with Grieving

Creating an obituary about a loved one is a helpful way to deal with grief. People can remember pleasant events and the deceased person’s accomplishments.

Informs the Community

It informs friends, colleagues, and community members of the death, funeral rites, and how to pay tribute to the memory.

Creates a Lasting Memory

Obituaries are published and placed online so that generations can learn about their family’s history.

Brings People Together

It can help individuals recall their good times together and be consoled in their grief.

Steps of Composing a Meaningful Obituary

These simple steps will make the task easy:

Gather Basic Information

  • Full name, including any nicknames
  • Date and place of birth
  • Date and place of death
  • Age at the time of death
  • Cause of death (optional)​

Write a Brief Biography

  • Education and career highlights
  • Military service, if relevant
  • Hobbies and interests
  • Community involvement​

List Surviving Family Members

  • Spouse, children, grandchildren
  • Siblings, parents
  • Other close relatives​

Provide Service Details

  • Date, time, and location of the funeral or memorial service.
  • Information about visitation or the wake.
  • Special requests (e.g., donations to a charity)

Add a Personal Touch

  • Add a favorite saying, quote, or prayer.
  • Include a memorable story or anecdote.

Tips for Writing It Perfectly

These tips can help you write a good obituary:

  • Keep It Simple and Clear: Obituaries with simple words and short sentences are easier to read for readers.
  • Be Honest but Kind: Focus on key milestones and meaningful anecdotes rather than every small detail.
  • Add Personal Touches: Mention stories or details about the deceased’s quirks.
  • Use a Warm Tone: The tone should be friendly when creating obituaries for friends. A warm, loving tone makes the obituary special and personal.
  • Proofread Carefully: Ensure you spell and grammar correctly, fact-check the information, and have another family member review it before posting.
  • Keep Length in Mind: Some newspapers charge by the word. Write enough to do the person justice, but within the word limit.

Where to Publish the Obituary?

After completing its composition, you must decide which platform to post the obituary.

Local Newspapers

Posting in a local newspaper is a traditional method of notifying the community of the passing.

Funeral Home Website

Most funeral homes provide free web obituary listings, which can be easily distributed to friends and family.

Online Memorial Sites

Websites such as Legacy.com or Ever Loved enable you to put up longer obituaries with photographs, videos, and guest books for messages.

Social Media

A Facebook post can efficiently reach numerous people within seconds. The platform allows users to create memorial posts with condolences and memories for the departed.

Church Bulletins or Newsletters

Religious members can have their obituaries printed within church newsletters and bulletins.

Choose publication platforms that make obituaries easy for potential readers to access.

Conclusion

Writing Oklahoma obits is a meaningful way to honor someone’s life. Obituaries contain basic information like the person’s name, age, date of birth, death date, and funeral. Putting together an obituary helps honor the deceased, remember old times when they were with us, and it serves as needed information to keep loved ones updated. It can be placed in newspapers or on social media. Keep the writing simple, warm, and respectful. This way, the obituary becomes a lasting tribute to someone special.