The births, deaths and marriages section of local newspapers were once the best places to find obituaries. However, with the closure of many local newspapers, most people now look online for obituaries and a web search can be the best starting point.
What is an obituary?
An obituary is the public announcement of a person's death.
Published in local newspapers and increasingly online, obituaries are an important way to mark the passing of a loved one. They also serve to inform the broader community of a death.
Where can you find obituaries?
Although there are no longer local newspapers in every town, those that are left still print obituaries. They will also post obituaries from local people on their websites.
Many funeral directors also offer an online obituary service, allowing people to post obituaries and funeral notices on the funeral director’s website.
Dedicated sites such as Funeral Notices allow people to post their own obituaries. People looking for obituaries can search by town, the name of the deceased and date of death. These sites also usually let visitors leave tributes and make charitable donations.
Posting an obituary on social media allows a bereaved family to inform a broad range of people of the death of a loved one. Social media has the advantage that it is free to use and can be a good way to reach people who are not in regular contact with the friends or family of the deceased.
How to write an obituary
You don’t have to write an obituary when a loved one dies, but it is a good way to commemorate their passing and to inform people of their death.
A basic obituary should include:
• Name
• Age
• Place of birth
• Date of death
• Place of death
It is also useful to include details of any funeral arrangements.
Besides the details of the death and funeral, an obituary can also include details of a person’s life, work, hobbies and surviving family. Some also include tributes, prayers or poems. It is common for online obituaries to also include a photograph.
If you need help writing an obituary, your funeral director can offer advice on how to write it and where to place it.
