The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing an Obituary

Discover the dos and don’ts of obituary writing in Phoenix: essential details, life highlights, family mentions, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Writing an obituary can feel overwhelming during grief, but maintaining a clear structure helps. An obituary in Phoenix should start with the basics, giving the full name, age, and date of passing. It should also include summary points about essential life achievements and details about surviving blood relatives. Funeral arrangements should be included, but the obituary text should be direct and flowing. The text shouldn’t include ordinary phrases and should protect individual privacy. Also, check for mistakes in grammar and spelling.

The Do’s: Best Practices for Writing an Obituary

Include Essential Details

An obituary notice should include the deceased person’s full name, the city where they lived, and where they were raised as a child.

• For example: “John Smith, 75, of Springfield passed away on October 1, 2023.”

This sentence presents the most critical details right away.

Highlight Significant Life Events

You should emphasize their milestones in the text. This includes the person’s educational background, professional path, interests, hobbies, and accomplishments. Highlight essential life events such as marital status and having children in the obituary content.

• For example: “John graduated from Springfield High in 1965 and worked as a school teacher for three decades. He spent weekends fishing at his lake cabin with family.”

Mention Surviving Family Members

When writing about a departed person, include details about living family members. Note down the complete names of all family members, including the spouse and their descendants and near relatives. The detailed information establishes heartfelt bonds between readers and deceased relatives and demonstrates appropriate respect to survivors.

• For Example: “The family survivors include Mary, his wife, with Lisa and Tom, his children, and three grandkids.”

This information lets people understand the connections between family and friendship while allowing them to mourn together.

Provide Funeral or Memorial Information

Include details about the funeral ceremony. Details on the memorial service should include the date and time of the event, where it will take place, and information on donations. People attending memorial services need this essential information to express their condolences.

• For Example: ” The memorial service for the deceased person will be held at Springfield Community Center on Saturday, September 30th, 2023, at 2:00 PM. Instead of flowers, those wishing to honor the deceased’s life may contribute to the local animal preserve.”

Keep It Concise and Clear

Your obituary should be brief and straightforward. Be respectful toward the person you want to honor while delivering your message directly.  A good obituary is brief yet impactful. It’s typically under 500 words.

The Don’ts: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t Use Clichés or Overused Phrases

Avoid phrases like “He turned into an excellent father” or “He will be missed” in obituary writing. Instead, write phrases that depict the person’s personality and the impact they had on others.  

• For example: “Under his ten years of leadership at the local youth soccer team, he enabled numerous young athletes to build their futures.”

Don’t Focus Solely on Death

An obituary honors a person’s life instead of focusing on their death. The text should mention limited content related to a person’s passing. Too much focus on death can overshadow a celebratory tone. 

Don’t Include Sensitive or Private Information

Not including sensitive information, such as the cause of death or any personal struggles, helps you respect their privacy. You should also avoid mentioning information like their address, medical history, or cause of death. This can be distressing to the family if it focuses more on their trials and struggles. 

Don’t Forget to Proofread

Remember that people might make mistakes, so read the obituary again to ensure it says what you intend before printing or publishing it. Spelling and grammar check, and double-check all names and dates. Errors distract from your tribute, so proofread carefully. Lastly, do not delay the publication of the obituary. People usually want to support and send condolences immediately. Informing within a week or so of the passing is standard for letting the community know and giving them a chance to pay their respects.

Conclusion

Writing an obituary in Phoenix can create a heartfelt tribute to respect your loved one. It should contain basic information about the deceased, with their full name followed by age and death date, key milestones, and details about who survived them. Give essential funeral service information, so attendees can plan accordingly. Avoid clichés and respect privacy. Review the obituary for errors before quickly posting so people can offer condolences to your loved ones. 

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