Obituary Tip Sheet

Writing an obituary for a loved one can be a difficult task, but it can also aid in the healing process. Below are some tips to make it a little easier. Remember that newspaper charges can be more than $500 per day for long notices, so try to prioritze your thoughts and remember that many memories can be saved for the service.

1. Opening sentence - typically the first line of the notice reads: Jane Doe, (age), passed away (date) after a long/short illness.
2. You can also include the place of death.or cause of death (ie. a battle with cancer)_.
3. Short Bio- The second section of the notice typically includes place of birth, time in city; possibly their place of graduation, occupation, hobbies, organizations and church membership. (i.e. Born in West Virginia, she was a 30 year Akron resident who graduated from North High School '56. Jane retired from Firestone in 1986 after 30 years of service.  She was a member The Women's City Club and attended St. Johns Church
4. Short reflection - (i.e, Jane will be remembered for her devotion to family, great cooking and wonderful sense of humor.
5. Preceded in Death - (i.e. Preceded in death by husband John in 2002 and son John Jr.)
6. Survivors - (i.e She is survived by daughters; Beth (Tim) Smith, Patty (Mike) Johnson; sons; Edward (Jamie), Sam (Jodie) and Mike (Jennifer); 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.
7. Service information - We will add information on service date and times as well as memorial donations, if you choose.