What to Know About Obituaries

An obituary is a traditional and public way of announcing that someone has passed away. However, writing one can often be an emotionally taxing experience for the person responsible with announcing the death of a loved one. While this can be challenging, writing an obituary can also be a positive and cathartic experience that can help with the grieving process.

When you are ready to begin writing an obituary for a loved one, here are some important tips to keep in mind. An obituary should be accurate as well as empathetic to the situation and should be published shortly after the passing of the deceased before the funeral is held. If you aren’t sure what to include in an obituary or what order to include life events, here is a sample format. Most obituaries include the following, in the following order: Children, Grandchildren, Siblings, Nieces and Nephews, Honors and Awards, Education, Employment, Extra-Curricular Activities, Retirement, Homelife, Pets, Military Background if Applicable, and any Details about the Funeral Services such as where and when the funeral service is to be held.

Traditional obituaries tend not to include the cause of death however with modern obituaries it isn’t uncommon to include the cause of death, such as a courageous battle with cancer, or if the deceased had been publicly battling an illness. However, this is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong way to go about it. If you are having trouble writing an obituary A Simple Cremation has guides on their website that offer assistance in writing obituaries and tributes.

If you want to publish the obituary in a newspaper there are several options available to you in the Vancouver area. Most papers will also need you to confirm the passing of the deceased with the funeral home. Due to the low cost of our service, A Simple Cremation does not offer a full obituary service. There is a tribute page on our website which is provided at no cost to you.  Online Tributes have the advantage of a Google search and will pop up when your loved one’s name is searched for. Online notices are not chained to a specific publication being published on a specific day and can remain accessible in perpetuity.

We hope that we have been able to provide some insight regarding the writing and publishing of obituaries and can therefore make memorializing a passed loved one that much easier.

We believe every family deserves respect, reverence, and compassion. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cremation services, please call or text A Simple Cremation (604) 809-2006.