Cremation services in Evanston, IL, are only one part of the end of life process. You may also want to write an obituary. Writing an obituary is a long-established tradition in America and reflects the evolution of American society over time. Given that almost 2.4 million people die in the US every year, it’s always helpful to know how to structure a meaningful obituary.   

What is an Obituary   

In simple terms, an obituary is a death announcement of your loved one in a newspaper, social media, or radio. It contains a short account of the deceased’s life, his/her contributions, profession, and information about the upcoming funeral. In larger cities, obituaries are written only for famous or significant people.    

Follow the below steps to write an obituary for your departed loved one. 

What Details to Include

Along with the announcement of death, you need to mention the full name of the deceased, their age, profession, place/town where they lived and died, names of the survivors (close family members or friends, education qualifications, etc.  

It’s up to you whether or not to mention the cause of death 

Also, make it clear if funeral services will be held or not as not everyone decides to have a funeral. Lately, many Americans prefer direct cremation after a memorial.   

You can write the following personal details:  

• A picture of them 
• Name, age, area of residence. 
• Date of birth, parents’ names. 

• Professional career including retirement 
• Education qualifications and literary achievements 
• Community or volunteer work 
• Religion, if any 
• Accomplishments of your loved one; any awards, medals, or government or public recognition.  

• Hobbies 
• Close Family and Friends 
• Funeral arrangements or/and memorial services 
• Donations, if any 

1. Mention Stories

An obituary is meant to honor the deceased, so it must contain more information about their life facts. Write a few fond memories of the departed soul; if you can’t remember any, ask from close friends and family.  

Don’t shy from sharing something funny or pleasant memories. However, you can carry the serious tone throughout, if you want. 

Write from bottom of your heart and include anything that, in your opinion, gives tribute to the lost loved one.  

2.Brevity is the Soul of Wit

The obituary should be as short as possible to make It more engaging and readable. Don’t add too much information or lengthy stories. Also, many newspapers have a word limit and you need to include the major details within a specified limit.  

3.Read a Few Samples

If you’re still confused about the structure or what else to write, grab a few local newspapers, turn to the obituaries’’ section, and look at a few obituaries, analyze what to write. 

Now, with a few clicks on Google, you can find many obituaries published in newspapers or social media.  

4.Make Them Unique

Dig a bit further and include a couple of things that make your obituary look unique. Add points that not only honor the departed soul but captivate the readers as well and make them think highly of the deceased.  

5.Proofread

Before submitting the final draft to the newspaper or your social media account, go through it a couple of times to ensure it’s free from grammatical errors. Simple spellcheck isn’t enough and you need to proofread it carefully. You may crosscheck it with a friend who is proficient in English writing. Cremation services in Evanston, IL, can be stressful, but it’s important to get it right.