Results for 'obituary' | Rochdale Observer | Publication (2024)

FAQs

How do you indicate someone is deceased in an obituary? ›

Announcing the Death

“Passed away”, “ended a long battle with…”, “died”, “surrounded by family” are all common and acceptable expressions to use. Remember to use verbiage you feel comfortable with.

The key difference between an obituary and a death notice is the length. Death notices are very brief. Within just a few sentences, a death notice describes the need-to-know facts surrounding an individual's passing. An obituary is longer in length, and provides a more detailed announcement.

First, there is no legal requirement that an obituary or death notice be published in a newspaper. For official records, see the county clerk where you think the person died. Second, some newspapers charge for or limit the number of obits in the paper. If the family does not want the extra expense, no obit.

Announce the death and include their full name, age, hometown, and date of death. Include a brief summary of their life. Mention family members who have already passed away, as well as surviving family members. Share funeral or memorial service details, including whether they are public or private events.

In most cases, obituaries do not include the names or nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws unless they were close to the deceased.

Obituary Example: Announcing the Funeral

[Full name], [age], of [where they lived], sadly left us on [date of death] due to [cause of death]. They leave behind [list of surviving family members]. A service will be held in their honor at [time] on [date] at [location].

Reasons a Family Might Not Want to Write an Obituary

Some may feel that it is too personal or private to share with the public, while others may not have the financial means to pay for its publication. Additionally, some families may prefer to grieve privately and not draw attention to the death.

An obituary is written to tell the story of your loved one. These will often be in the funeral program. There will even be a part of the funeral where the obituary will be silently read by everyone in attendance at the funeral. It is something you and your family should be patient with when you are writing it.

There are two types of obituary advertisem*nts: Death notices and memorial advertisem*nts. The cost is commonly included in funeral packages but can also be paid for personally. Additionally, some funeral providers, like Eirene, offer complimentary online memorials on their website.

Do some people not post obituaries? ›

No, obituaries are not legally required, but many choose to include them in their End-of-Life Plan as a part of their estate plan.

Cook their favorite meal. Plant a tree or flowers in their memory. Read their favorite book, listen to their favorite music, or watch their favorite movie. On social media, you can create a Facebook or Instagram page dedicated to them, and invite others to contribute or share their memories as well.

“It is with great sadness that the family of (deceased name) announce (his/her) passing….” “(Deceased name) will be sadly missed by ….” “Fondly remembered by….” “Forever remembered by….”

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.

If you like to be technical, names should be listed as follows: first name, spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname (ex: Tom (Sarah) Johnson). 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).

And there are many ways to say that someone has “died” (“departed,” “passed away,” “went to be with her Lord,” and “entered eternal rest” are some of the most common), so choose the expression you prefer.

Paragraph: List those relatives who preceded the deceased in death. Start the paragraph with the deceased's first name, and then “was preceded in death by:” followed by the list of names.

deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. deceased is the preferred term in legal use. departed is used usually as a euphemism.

Use the person's name, with "late" if you must make it clear they are dead. I think the terms like "the deceased" are too impersonal. "The departed" is a polite, formal expression that also works, and it's also a popular movie (though I never saw it).