What does a typical obituary look like?

Even the most sensational obituaries should include key details about the person's life and death. First, you'll want to include the person's name, birth place, age, date of death, location and cause of death (optional).
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What is the proper format for an obituary?

Obituary Guidelines
  1. Deceased's full name, including well-known nickname, (if any) followed by a comma and age at death. (You do not need to say “age”.) ...
  2. Residence (name of the city) at death. ...
  3. Day and date of death.
  4. Place of death (if appropriate). ...
  5. Cause of death (if appropriate).
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What should you not include in an obituary?

What You Don't Have to Include in an Obituary
  • Exact birth date. More people are choosing to leave out the deceased's exact birth date when writing an obituary. ...
  • Mother's maiden name. ...
  • Address. ...
  • Education. ...
  • Ex-spouses. ...
  • Children. ...
  • Jobs or careers. ...
  • Cause of death.
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How do you write a simple obituary example?

A simple short obituary template

[Full name], [age], of [where they lived], passed away on [date of death] from [cause of death]. They were predeceased by [list of family members who died before them], and they left behind [list of their family members who are still alive].
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What information is listed in an obituary?

Important Facts to Include

Obituary writing must always include the full name of the deceased and a nickname if he or she had one. The town or city of residence, the place and cause of death, the person's age and the date he or she died, including the year are all important facts to include when writing an obituary.
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How To Write An Obituary



How do you separate names in an obituary?

Semi-colon - A semi-colon should be used to separate a list that also contains commas in the same sentence. A semi-colon most often will be used in lists of survivors.
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What does it mean when a name is in parentheses in an obituary?

A name in parentheses that does not appear to be a nickname or the name of a spouse, for example, “Lydia (Bixby) Christiansen.” The woman's middle name matches the surname of her parents, for example, “Sarah Muncie Thompson was born to Joseph and Esther Muncie.”
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What is an example of an obituary example?

Here is an example of an obituary for your mother:

Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Peterson was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world suddenly on July 6, 2020 at age 56. She was born to Craig and Donna Sanders on June 23, 1964.
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How do you list preceded in death in an obituary?

Start the paragraph with the deceased's first name, and then “was preceded in death by:” followed by the list of names. The appropriate immediate family members like wives, husbands, brothers, sisters and parents are customarily listed, but you can add as many names as you wish.
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What is an example of a tribute?

The definition of a tribute refers to a statement or actions honoring someone or something. An example of a tribute is a dinner hosted to honor a person and give him an award. A payment made by a feudal vassal to his lord. Any forced payment or contribution, as through bribery, or the need to make this.
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Should you list step grandchildren in an obituary?

There are no rules for how to handle this kind of obituary writing challenge, but it's important to include all step-siblings and half-siblings in the obituary notice, if you are making a list of family members. [Name] is survived by siblings [Name], [Name], [Name], and step-siblings [Name] and [Name].
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How do you write a good mother's obituary?

How to Craft a Beautiful Obituary for Your Mother or Father
  1. Talk about their favorite things. ...
  2. Tell family stories. ...
  3. Quote your parent. ...
  4. Share their accomplishments. ...
  5. Talk about the ways they showed their love. ...
  6. Remember how you frequently saw them. ...
  7. Paint a picture of days gone by. ...
  8. Tell a love story.
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Who is listed first in an obituary?

In general, you list the closest members of the family first. Start with the spouse. Next, list children in the order they were born as well as any of their spouses. Here is where you might include ex-partners, especially if they had children with the deceased.
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Do you put ex wife in obituary?

Should an ex wife be mentioned in an obituary? Most obituaries include the deceased's current spouse in the list of survivors, but don't mention any ex-spouses, as they are not typically considered current family.
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What do you call unmarried couples in obituary?

She was referred to in the obituary as his “domestic partner.” “Domestic Partner” is, in some state and local governments, a legal designation that clarifies benefits to unmarried couples. In general usage, though, “partner” might imply either that they were gay or in business together, neither of which was true.
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What do brackets mean in an obituary?

If the spouse of the deceased has a different last name than the relative, also include their last name inside the parenthesis. You can also list any immediate family members whose death preceded the deceased.
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Do you include maiden name in obituary?

The first of the details when writing an obituary would, of course, be their full name. If she was a married woman, you'll want to include her maiden name and if he or she was commonly known by a nickname, you may want to add that as well.
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What does of the home mean in an obituary?

For those in our coverage area, use the same system as for the residence of the deceased. It is not necessary to give the residence of a spouse or child who lived with the deceased. For any other relative who lived with the deceased, say of the home: his mother, Mary Smith of the home.
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Do you include nieces and nephews in obituary?

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. Grandchildren are sometimes listed but often numbered instead (…he leaves behind 5 grandchildren).
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Do you mention a divorce in an obituary?

Today's etiquette dictates pretty firmly that it is the decision of the surviving family members whether or not to include the former spouse of the deceased in the obituary. Short of any obvious dissention among the family, many families choose to err on the side of caution and include the ex as a survivor.
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Why are obituaries so expensive?

In short, obituaries are often expensive due to the actual cost of printing and the fact that there used to be very few alternatives. Online obituaries, such as the free ones you can create here on Ever Loved, can vary in price, but are generally much cheaper than printed obituaries.
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What does Nee mean in an obituary?

Definition of née

1 —used to identify a woman by her maiden family name Mrs. Jane Doe, née Smith.
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Who might write an obituary?

Obituaries can be written by the family, with the help of a funeral director, or with a standard template. In most cases, the family begins the obituary process and we assist with any editing.
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What do you say to your mom in an obituary?

What else should I say about my mother in her obituary?
  • Her hobbies, passions, and interests.
  • Any clubs, organizations, volunteer work she was a part of.
  • Her values, sayings, or words of wisdom.
  • Her favorite places to travel, things to eat, meals to make, or things to do.
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How do you write an obituary for both parents?

Include an explanation of the relationship. In an obituary of this nature, it's worth mentioning how they met, how they interacted with each other, and the length of their relationship. Add a story that shows readers the love they shared, rather than simply telling them. Be specific.
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