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3 Quick Tips for Writing An Obituary

man and woman grieving

As we all know, a loved one’s death usually leaves us with an extensive list of responsibilities to attend to. Often, the number of tasks can feel insurmountable and overwhelming. At Fox Monuments, we understand how difficult this particular moment is. Therefore, we do all in our power to make the process of acquiring a Jewish monument stress-free, painless and even rewarding. Our multi-decade work with Long Island’s Jewish community proves our enduring respect for the Jewish faith. Over the years, our craftsmen have produced countless breathtaking Jewish monuments. We work closely with families to craft headstones with inscriptions that symbolize legacies, faith and love.

Of course, one of the fundamental aspects of losing a loved one is writing an obituary for the deceased. Amidst the grief, pressure and countless obligations, it can be easy to overlook or compromise. However, this is truthfully one of the variables in this process that deserves serious attention, focus and conscious thought. The obituary is your opportunity to inform the community, friends and family of their passing, explain what happened, share service details and honor their memory. You can have the funeral home post the obituary on their website, share it on social media platforms and  anywhere else it might be relevant. 

In this post, we’ll discuss the obituary, the writing process, list tips on how you can enhance it and what makes it so important. 

 

1. Look for Examples that You Like

Of course, for such an important document, we want to include absolutely everything that made them incredible and omit nothing at all. However, it’s definitely best to alleviate some of that pressure from your shoulders. It’s great that you want to do right by them. But it’s impossible to artfully describe absolutely every moment of their lives and every facet of their character in one brief obituary. 

A smart way to get some inspiration or guidance is to read examples of other obituaries. You can figure out how to refine your tone, see what they acknowledge and get a general sense of similarities between several different obituaries. Browse the funeral home’s website, newspapers or ask any relevant professionals for notable examples you should emulate.   

This is the best way to begin the process swiftly and with a sense of confidence. 

2. Make A List of Elements to Include

Of course, the obituary can consist of whatever you like. But there are obviously certain details that you’ll consider of tremendous importance and others you can afford to omit. Therefore, you should keep a list of anything that may come to mind spontaneously and when you least expect it. 

Also, you can ask any professionals to give you a list of the traditional things that go into obituaries. Keeping a record of these elements will help you feel a lot more confident in the final draft before you post it.

                 

3. Monitor The Length 

Again: we know that you want to honor the person you lost with this obituary. However, a colossal narrative is definitely not an ideal obituary. Basically, the central purpose is to be a brief summary of somebody’s life. Also, don’t forget that anything you put in a newspaper will have a price based on length. 

If you want to honor them with an extensive, written celebration of their life and legacy, you can save it for their eulogy. Then you can deliver it to friends and family at the burial service. Ultimately, when composing the obituary, the relevant details and a concise amount of personal comments will be perfectly sufficient. 

  

Conclusion

Our mission is to help you honor your loved ones in every way possible. Of course, our primary focus is on crafting a one-of-a-kind monument that is the perfect, enduring celebration of their life. In addition, our commitment to providing you with strength and support is an essential part of our mission, as well. We know what a difficult time this is for all who must endure it. Therefore, we’ll continue working on your behalf to alleviate some of the stress, difficulty and pain and deliver a Jewish monument worthy of your loved one.