Writing a Meaningful Obituary

After a loved one passes away, their family is faced with many different decisions and tasks. All these responsibilities can make an already difficult time even harder. The fortunate thing is that your funeral home near Boones Mill, VA, is able to help you every step of the way. They can take a lot of those burdens off your shoulders, so you can focus on being with your family and processing your loss. One of the tasks that will fall to the family is writing an obituary. This can be an emotional yet cathartic experience for many people. 

Some obituaries are very short and simple, and include only the basic information. This would include the person’s name, dates of birth and death, and the names of their close family members. That might be their parents, siblings, spouse, children, and grandchildren. To go a little further, you could mention where they lived and grew up, where they went to school and worked, and whether they spent any time serving in the military. These are all important pieces of information that can be put in an obituary. 

Beyond all the basic facts, you can begin to delve a little bit deeper into that person’s life. Think about how they loved to spend their time and what their passions were. Did they love to garden or keep plants? Maybe they were a chef or an avid at-home cook. Perhaps they spent many years of their life traveling. They could have been a musician, an artist, a passionate worker, or any other number of things. Dive into what they loved, because those are the things that make a person who they are. How did they spend their time within their community? Many people are active in their community in some way, whether it’s by serving within the government, coaching a school team, volunteering at the animal shelter, or participating in their church. These all things you could include in your loved one’s obituary. 

Something to think about that would make it a little bit more unique is to include a story or special memory of that person. Maybe they were known for a particular funny incident, or perhaps they had a favorite saying that they could apply to any situation. You can ask around to family and friends for ideas too, and you might even learn something new about your loved one in the process. 

An obituary can serve many functions. It is primarily thought of as an announcement to the community of a person’s death, and they often include details about where and when their services will take place. However, they can also be a lasting written tribute to the memory of your loved one. Future generations may become curious about their past and find the obituary, allowing them to learn more intimate details about their family. Your funeral home near Boones Mill, VA, can help you find out where and how to publish your loved one’s obituary, and you can take comfort in knowing that the written word will preserve a glimpse of their history.