Who do you include in an obituary?

Use the full names of parents, siblings, children, as well as spouse/partner. Also mention grandparents, aunts, uncles, and any step-family members. If the deceased has grandchildren or great-grandchildren, you can list them in number — most obituaries don't list each name of the surviving grandchildren.
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Who should be named in an obituary?

List the spouse first, include the town or city where the spouse lives, children in the order of when they were born and their spouses, if any, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, in-laws, nephews or nieces, all listed in birth order.
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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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Who should be listed as survivors in an obituary?

For obituaries, it's etiquette to list survivors or predeceased family members. A survivor is a relative of the deceased who is still living. A predeceased family member is a relative who has already passed away.
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Do you include aunts and uncles 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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How To Write An Obituary



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 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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Do you include siblings in 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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Do you include 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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How do I put my ex daughter in law in an obituary?

Generally, an ex in-law would not be considered a survivor for obituary purposes unless the relationship remained good or the rest of the family felt it was appropriate to include the individual. If there are children of the ex sister-in-law that need to be included, you could list survivors this way: “Surviving are……
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What is an obituary example?

A standard obituary template is formatted as follows: [Full name], [age], of [place of residence], passed away on [date of death] after a [cause of death]. [First name] was born on [date of birth] to [parents] in [birthplace].
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How do you write a father's obituary?

Describe your father's full name, date of passing, birth year or age (may not choose to include full birthdate for security reasons), and birthplace. Always use your father's preferred gender pronouns and preferred name when writing the obituary. Doing so is respectful and validating of their identity.
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What do names in parentheses mean in obituaries?

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 the proper way to write an obituary?

The anatomy of a good obituary
  1. Jot down the key facts first. ...
  2. Write in the present tense, in letter form and change it later. ...
  3. Reach out to friends and family for memorable stories. ...
  4. Ask yourself these questions about your loved one. ...
  5. Don't feel like this has to be funny.
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How do you list a separated spouse in an obituary?

If a couple shared friends and acquaintances, listing the ex among the survivors is a way to help people recognize the name of the deceased and respond appropriately. If the couple remained friendly after their divorce, it may be appropriate to list the survivor's name as "former spouse."
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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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When your ex husband dies Are you a widow?

If her ex-husband is deceased, essentially the same eligibility rules would apply, except that she could get benefits as early as 60. By the way, you are right when you said that a woman whose ex-husband dies is technically not his widow. And Social Security law recognizes that, too.
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Should ex wife attend ex husband's funeral?

In general, if you're on good terms with your ex-spouse and ex-family, you should attend the funeral. You were a big part of your spouse's life at one time. Even if you've gone separate ways, those memories and feelings are still very real. If you were on good terms, you'll likely be welcome to any funeral events.
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How do you mention stepchildren in an obituary?

Children and/or stepchildren in order of date of birth, and their spouses. List spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname. If the spouse's surname is different, or the couple is not married, include the partner's surname in the parenthesis along with their first name.
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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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How do you write an obituary for a blended family?

Jump ahead to these sections:
  1. Step 1: Tell the Full Story.
  2. Step 2: Don't Leave Anyone Out.
  3. Step 3: Consider the Meaning of Family.
  4. Step 4: Talk to your Family.
  5. Step 5: Compile a List.
  6. Step 6: Focus on Main Life Events.
  7. Step 7: Learn How to Write an Obituary.
  8. Sample Obituaries for Blended Families with Step-Children.
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What does it mean to be preceded in death?

'Preceded in Death' Definition

The obituary will say that the deceased is survived by a list of relatives. The obituary will also say that the deceased was 'preceded in death' by certain people. "Preceded in death" refers to those relatives who died before the deceased.
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Do you mention friends in an obituary?

The obituary should reflect the wishes of those closest to the subject. Affectionate phrases can be used throughout the obituary, such as “beloved wife” or “devoted friend.” A favorite quotation or a few lines of poetry are often a nice addition.
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Do you list pallbearers in obituary?

The obituary's traditional purpose is to list survivors either related through the bloodline or marriage. Additional information such as where the body will be laid to rest and any pallbearer's names or names of honorary pallbearers may be mentioned.
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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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