After you lose a loved one, planning a funeral may feel overwhelming. There are many decisions to make and tasks to do after losing someone you love. One of those tasks is writing an obituary. For many grieving families, this is best done by a close friend or family member with the time and desire to take on such a personal task.

If you are going to write your loved one’s obituary, you might not know where to start. Fortunately, we can help. Our funeral planning professionals have experience helping families with all of the decisions and planning during this time. If you want to write a great obituary for your loved one, these steps may help.

Steps to Writing an Obituary

Most obituaries follow a certain pattern. Start by outlining this pattern and then filling in the gaps with the important information.

  1. Announce the death. This includes the date the descedent passed, his or her age, and a brief description of your loved one. For example, “On Thursday, October 12, 2021, John Parsons, loving father and husband, passed away at the age of 81.”
  2. Give a brief biography. This often includes where your loved one was born, where she or he lived, education, marriage and awards. It may also include pertinent work information or anything unique about the decedent’s life and situation.
  3. Make it personal. Your loved one was unique and had an extraordinary life. Be sure to make his or her obituary personal. List any hobbies or accomplishments that help showcase that person’s life was special.
  4. List the family members. You don’t have to mention everyone, but it is customary to mention the family members who passed away before as well as the surviving family. For example, “John was preceded in death by his wife Karen, his father Jim and his mother Joan. He is survived by his four children and sixteen grandchildren.”
  5. Funeral information. Most obituaries provide the date, time and location of any funerals or services. Also include specifics regarding donations, flowers or any condolences.

Let Us Help You With Funeral Planning

At Callaghan Mortuary & Livermore Crematory, our professionals offer experienced and compassionate guidance after the loss of a loved one. From help writing the obituary to funeral arrangements, let us ease some of the burdens. To learn more about our services, call us at (925) 447-2942 or fill out our confidential contact form. We are here to help you through this difficult time.