Obituary Writing

How to write an obituary for publication in a newspaper or news service.

After a loved one has died, family members and friends may want to memorialize that person with an obituary in a newspaper or news service. Newspapers print obituaries in a certain format and order, so being familiar with and writing an obituary in that format before submitting it to print is important and will help the process go smoother.

Types of obituaries

When a friend or family member dies, survivors have a couple of options when it comes to writing an obituary for publication in a newspaper or news service.

Death notices

Death notices are typically a free service, listing basic information such as the deceased's name, age, place of death, hometown (if different from place of death), and any funeral or memorial plans. Typically these are written by staff members of the news service using basic information provided by the family or funeral home. Death notices serve the purpose of informing people in the newspaper's circulation that a local resident has died and are generally not meant as memorial statements.

Paid obituaries

Obituaries are often considered advertising in a newspaper, with rates being charged per column inch. Paid obituaries are usually written by the family or a funeral home with information provided by the family. Depending on whether a funeral home is managing the obituary, billing is done either through the funeral home, with the cost passed on to the family, or is done with the family directly.

After an obituary is submitted to the newspaper

For most newspapers in the United States, the required style for obituaries is, as with all stories, Associated Press (AP) Style. After a family or funeral home submits a paid, pre-written obituary, a newspaper employee will edit the obituary to conform to AP Style.

After the obituary has been edited to conform to the newspaper's style, typically a word and character count will be used to determine the number of column inches the obituary will run in print. The inclusion of a photograph of the deceased increases the number of inches in the obituary and thus increases the price. Cost per column inch varies by newspaper.

Obituary writing

While the content of an obituary obviously changes from person to person, each obituary is written in a certain style and format.

First paragraph - Basic information

The first sentence in an obituary includes the deceased's name, age, cause of death (except suicides), date of death, and place of death.

The term preferred by newspapers is "died." If the euphemism "passed away" is used, the newspaper might change it to "died," but this may vary.

Example

John Smith, 84, died of a heart attack June 26 at Smith Nursing Home in Atlanta.

Second paragraph - Parents, birthplace, spouse, marriage

The second sentence, a new paragraph, usually includes the deceased parents, place of birth, and spouse(s) and date(s) and place(s) of marriage, if applicable.

Example

He was born to Jim and Mary Smith in Charleston, S.C. on July 18, 1924. He married Judy Barker on May 11, 1945 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Third paragraph - Education, military, career

The third paragraph usually includes information on the deceased's education and career.

Example

He graduated from West Side High School in 1942 and later earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Florida and a master's degree from the University of Georgia. After finishing school he moved to Atlanta and joined the U.S. Air Force, where he flew planes for 10 years before retiring to be a car mechanic in Atlanta for 20 years.

Fourth paragraph - Hobbies, religion, activities

The fourth paragraph usually includes information on the deceased's hobbies, church attendance, and other applicable activites.

Example

John was a loyal member of Atlanta Lutheran Church, where he occasionally taught Sunday School. He was also a 10-year member of the Atlanta Rotary Club and donated regularly to the American Heart Association.

Fifth paragraph - Survivors, past deceased

The fifth paragraph usually lists survivors and those who preceded the deceased in death.

Example

Sixth paragraph - Memorial service, burial, gifts, funeral home

The sixth paragraph usually includes information on the memorial service and/or burial and may or may not include a clergy member officiating. If a clergy member is mentioned, regardless of denomination, he or she is referred to as "the Rev."

Be sure to include an address or at least city for the memorial location.

Example

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Atlanta Lutheran Church with the Rev. Michael Olson officiating. A graveside burial will follow at noon at Atlanta Memorial Cemetary, 1121 W. Ash St. The family requests memorials be made to the American Heart Society or the Atlanta Rotary Club. Mitchell Funeral Home of Atlanta is in charge of arrangements.

The family may decide to include additional information throughout the obituary, such as memorial statements (e.g. "He had a loving smile."), which will add to the obituary's length and price. The information above is standard information included in most obituaries submitted for print.

The final obituary, ready for print

John Smith, 84, died of a heart attack June 26 at Smith Nursing Home in Atlanta.

He was born to Jim and Mary Smith in Charleston, S.C. on July 18, 1924. He married Judy Barker on May 11, 1945 in Tallahassee, Fla.

John is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy, of Atlanta; son John Jr. and wife Tracy of Tallahassee; daughter Cindy Paulson and husband Mark of Charleston; sister Nancy of Charleston; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jeremiah in 1992; and an infant son, Horace, in 1947.
A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Atlanta Lutheran Church with the Rev. Michael Olson officiating. A graveside burial will follow at noon at Atlanta Memorial Cemetary, 1121 W. Ash St. The family requests memorials be made to the American Heart Society or the Atlanta Rotary Club. Mitchell Funeral Home of Atlanta is in charge of arrangements.