In general, the closest family members are listed first. Begin with the spouse. Following that, mention your children in the order in which they were born, as well as any spouses. This is where ex-partners may be included, especially if they had children with the deceased. Finally, include any other relatives.
If there are no children or other relatives, then simply write "No one else was left" or some similar phrase. Alternatively, if there are still some close friends or colleagues, then consider including them too.
Do not list the deceased's former name or any other identifying information such as birth date or death date as this may reveal their identity to others who might want to look them up themselves.
It is also important to ensure that the deceased's rights and preferences as outlined in any existing trusts are followed. If necessary, contact the trust administrator to find out what needs to be done next.
Finally, remember that your article will be read by people who may know the person being remembered, so treat it with respect.
Include the town or city where the spouse resides; children in birth order; their spouses, if any; grandkids, great-grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, in-laws, nephews or nieces, all mentioned in birth order. If possible, include dates of death for each person listed.
You should also provide a list of the deceased's family members. Begin by listing individuals who are still alive ("Survived by") and their city or state of residence. Children and/or stepchildren in chronological order, as well as their spouses or partners, should be listed under the "Survived by" line. If the deceased had children from another marriage, list them too.
If you are not sure whether someone is your relative or not, check the census records. Also consider other relatives who may not have been mentioned by name but who are included in an obituary. For example, if the deceased was the spouse of my grandfather, he would be included in the obituary even though we were not close. We would have known this because he and my grandmother were married in the Catholic church where I could see from the death certificate that they were both deceased.
I hope you find this information useful. If you have any questions about how to write an obituary, please feel free to ask them in the comments section below. I will do my best to answer them.
Married survivors are frequently given alongside their spouse's name, such as "survived by son James and his wife, Ann." Unmarried survivors are often stated alone in a list of other family members, such as, as survived by beloved daughter Carol.
Other obituaries feature the deceased's spouse and children from a second marriage, followed by children from a prior marriage and siblings. Sons-in-law and daughters-in-law (and even their parents) may be included in some situations, as may friends.
If a couple had mutual connections and acquaintances, including the ex among the survivors can help others identify the deceased's name and respond properly. If the pair remained friends after their divorce, listing the survivor's name as "ex spouse" may be suitable. Otherwise, it is best to use only first names or to omit the last name entirely.
Obituaries are written to inform the public about important people who have died. An obituary includes the person's full name, age, places of birth and residence, occupations, significant facts about his or her life, and the cause of death. It often also mentions any children he or she had and other relatives. The information about the deceased's work history is especially important for journalists writing about current affairs. For example, if the person was a political leader then the obituary writer should know what positions he or she held before becoming involved in politics and whether or not they held any subsequent offices after leaving office.
Lists of survivors are usually included in funeral programs published by newspapers or magazines that cover topics related to death and dying. If you are a friend or family member of the deceased and would like to include someone on such a list, consider asking permission first. Some people might not want their names used in this way.
If the ex-sister-in-children law's must be mentioned, name them as follows: "Surviving are... her son, Joe Smith, and his children, Mary, Sarah, and Mark Smith." In this scenario, Joe is the deceased's son, and Mary is Joe's ex-wife. Their children are Sarah and Mark.
In general, when writing about the deceased's family, use their given names only; don't refer to the deceased's children as "his/her" children. If you know some of the deceased's other relatives, include them too. For example, if there are no other relatives but the deceased had one or more children from a previous marriage, mention that in an obituary by including the name(s) of those children too.
It is acceptable to omit the word "surviving" from an obituary. However, if someone is not listed as surviving, then they cannot be included on any death certificates or other official documents related to the death.
The word "ex-" can sometimes be used in place of the word "former" or "formerly". For example, instead of writing "the former mayor of Town X" you could write "the ex-mayor of Town X". This is incorrect because it implies that he was once elected mayor but is now not. Instead, write "the former mayor of Town X".
In three simple steps, you may view and explore your family tree.
Begin by listing individuals who are still alive ("Survived by") and their city or state of residence.
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