If you use an older photo, you might want to also include a more recent image so friends will be able to recognize the individual in the photograph. Determining whether to use a recent photo or one that is from your loved one’s youth is completely up to you and to their wishes.

Many family members and friends choose to include a photo in their obituary.

Some of the elements that are common to most obituaries include: While larger cities may post only a short obituary, more rural communities may allow for greater lengths for this type of notice either online or printed in local newspapers. Common Elements in Most ObituariesĬreating a common outline for your obituary allows readers to quickly find the information they need to know, such as service times and where any memorial will be held and where interment will occur. What started as a brief death notice in the early 1800s has since morphed into a celebration of life in the printed word that is often shared on your funeral home’s website and on social media. Obituaries were commonly written to be published in newspapers as a way to let the community know about the passing of your loved one. Whether you are preparing your own obituary for the future or writing for others, here are five examples of obituaries from which you can draw inspiration to capture the personality and spirit of the deceased. While there are certain elements that should be contained within an obituary, you will certainly want to add specialized touches that ensure anyone reading the obituary will get a sense of your loved one and the impact that he or she had on the world. Trying to find the words could be a challenge as you are still working through emotions from your loss. You know you want to get it exactly right, providing a beautiful summation of a life well-lived. Writing an obituary is never easy, and you might be wondering how you can even get started on this important project.

Samples of obituaries for a funeral