If you’re like most people, you aren’t eager to spend time thinking about what would happen if you became unable to direct your own medical care because of illness, an accident, or advanced age. However, if you don’t do at least a little bit of planning — writing down your wishes about the kinds of […]
Day 21
Obituary
Welcome to Day 21!
Today you will compile details about your Obituary. An Obituary is a notice that is printed online or published in newspapers after your death. It lets people know you have died and provides some biographical information about you. Your Obituary may also specify the time and place of your funeral or memorial service and wishes for donations.
If you have the Yup I’m Dead…Now What? Book, you can find it in Chapter 24.
Read: How to Write Your Obituary
First step is to check whether or not you wish to publish your obituary, and if you have or have not drafted a copy. If you have…where is it located?
If you have not drafted one, you will need to fill in the Obituary Overview section and Obituary Details.
Some items that you may wish to include are:
- NAME / ANNOUNCEMENT
- Full name of the deceased, including nickname, if any
- Age at death
- Residence (for example, the name of the city) at death
- Day and date of death (remember to include the year)
- Place of death
- Cause of death
- LIFE
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Names of parents
- Childhood: siblings, stories, schools, friends
- Marriage(s): date of, place, name of spouse
- Education: school, college, university and other
- Designations, awards, and other recognition
- Employment: jobs, activities, stories, colleagues, satisfactions, promotions, union activities, frustrations
- Military service
- Places of residence
- Hobbies, sports, interests, activities, and other enjoyment
- Charitable, religious, fraternal, political, and other affiliations; positions held
- Achievements
- Disappointments
- Unusual attributes, humor, other stories
- FAMILY
- Survived by (and place of residence):
- Spouse
- Children (in order of date of birth, and their spouses)
- Grandchildren
- Great-grandchildren
- Great-great-grandchildren
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Siblings (in order of date of birth)
- Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
- Friends
- Pets (if appropriate)
- Survived by (and place of residence):
- Predeceased by (and date of death):
- Spouse
- Children (in order of date of birth)
- Grandchildren
- Siblings (in order of date of birth)
- Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws
- Pets (if appropriate)
- SERVICE
- Day, date, time, place
- Name of officiant, pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, other information
- Visitation information if applicable: day, date, time, place
- Reception information if applicable: day, date, time, place
- Other memorial, vigil, or graveside services if applicable: day, date, time, place
- Name of funeral home in charge of arrangements
- Where to call for more information (even if no service planned)
- END
- Memorial funds established
- Memorial donation suggestions, including addresses
- Thank you to people, groups, or institutions
- Quotation or poem
- Three words that sum up the life
You can find more resources and templates here.
You are almost there! Keep plugging!
