Writing an Obituary: Honoring a Life in Words

Writing an obituary for a friend or loved one can be an emotional and daunting task. This story makes it easy to write a beautiful obituary. Create an article, audiocast, or video to share at the funeral and to distribute to news outlets. Go beyond the simple notice and record of a person’s death and highlight the essence of a life well lived. Highlight the departed one’s family role and relationships, and contributions to the community. Provide a few details and your virtual biographer will do the rest! This obituary guide will assist you in memorializing your loved one.

Answer the Important Questions; Skip Those Less Relevant

The ‘Times of My Life’ app provides you with a Virtual Biographer (VB) to interview you about the deceased. Yes, it’s an AI bot, but a very smart and intuitive one. Your VB has instant access to similar obits written and shared by millions of other people. It can help you illuminate the essence of the departed and create an obit that is uniquely yours.

General Tips

Using an obituary guide can simplify the process and ensure that you include all crucial details.

• Be Honest and Authentic: Reflect your loved one’s true personality. Don’t be afraid to share personal anecdotes or inside jokes.
• Capture Their Essence: Focus on what made them unique. What were their passions, values, and quirks?
• Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply stating their qualities, provide examples that illustrate them.
• Choose Your Words Carefully: Consider the tone and style you want to convey.
• Involve the Family: If possible, collaborate with family members to gather information and perspectives.
• Proofread Carefully: Errors can be distracting, so proofread thoroughly.
• Consider a Photo: A picture can be worth a thousand words. Choose a photo that captures their essence.
• Allow Yourself Time: Writing an obituary​ story takes time. Don’t rush the process.

Structure and Flow

Start with Basic Information

• Full Name: Include the full name of the deceased, including any nicknames or titles.
• Dates: Mention the dates of birth and death.
• Location: State where they were born and where they passed away.

Include Family Details

• Immediate Family: List surviving family members, including spouse, children, grandchildren, and siblings. Mention their names and relationships clearly.
• Predeceased Family: Include information about family members who have passed away if it adds context or importance.

Personal Background

• Occupation: Mention the deceased’s career and any notable achievements or roles.
• Education: Include any educational accomplishments or degrees.
• Residences: Note where they lived and grew up, if relevant.

Highlight Achievements and Contributions

• Professional Achievements: Detail any career milestones, awards, or honors.
• Community Involvement: Describe any significant contributions to community, religious, or volunteer organizations.
• Hobbies and Interests: Mention personal passions, hobbies, and interests that defined their life.

Share Personal Anecdotes

• Cherished Qualities: Highlight the deceased’s most memorable traits and characteristics.
• Stories and Memories: Include anecdotes or stories that illustrate their personality and impact on others.
• Legacy: Reflect on what people will remember most about the deceased.

Detail the Service Information

• Funeral and Memorial Details: Provide the date, time, and location of the funeral, memorial service, or celebration of life.
• Special Requests: Note any specific wishes for the service or reception.
• Donations and Contributions: Mention any requests for donations or contributions in their honor, if applicable.

Add a Personal Touch

• Sentiments and Messages: Include any personal messages or sentiments that reflect your feelings or those of the family.
• Quotes and Passages: Consider adding meaningful quotes, poems, or religious passages that resonate with the deceased’s life and values.

Respect Cultural and Religious Traditions

• Cultural Practices: Ensure that the obituary reflects any cultural or religious customs that are important to the deceased or their family.
• Religious Elements: Include any specific religious rites or traditions that are part of the funeral or memorial service.

Keep It Clear and Concise

• Clarity: Use clear and straightforward language to avoid confusion.
• Conciseness: While it’s important to be detailed, keep the obituary focused and avoid overly lengthy descriptions.

Proofread and Review

• Check for Accuracy: Ensure all dates, names, and details are correct.
• Seek Feedback: Ask family members or close friends to review the obituary for accuracy and completeness.
• Revise: Make any necessary revisions to ensure the obituary accurately reflects the deceased’s life and legacy.

Consider the Audience

• Target Readers: Think about who will be reading the obituary and what information will be most meaningful to them.
• Tone: Maintain a respectful and appropriate tone, balancing personal reflections with factual information.

Write the Obituary; Add Media

• After the interview and after you add whatever details you think are important, you will have the option of writing the obit yourself, or having your virtual biographer write the obit. It only cost $0.99 to have your VB write the obit — and will save you hours of work writing it yourself. You can always edit what the VB writes.
• If you prefer to write the obit yourself, use your answers from the interview and the details and notes the app captured, to guide your writing. Tips for writing the obit yourself can be viewed by tapping the “Tips” icon in the app. Additional tips are listed below.
• After the obit is written you will end up at the ‘Enhance Story’ screen. This is where the magic happens.
  • Tap “Add Media” to insert images and/or video clips into the narrative of your obit.
  • Tap “Narrator” to choose a narrator. NOTE: A narrator is great if you ask your virtual biographer to write the obit in the Third Person. If it is written in the First Person, then YOU are the narrator of the obit.
  • Tap “Music” to add background music to the obit, assuming you plan to publish it as an audiocast or a video.

Edit and Revise

After the obit is written by you or your virtual biographer, you can “share” it for free through he app with friends and loved ones. Their feedback can provide valuable perspective and help you improve your narrative of the departed’s life. After you get their feedback you can go back and edit the obit as desired — or ask your VB to rewrite it with the feedback!

Publish the Obituary

One of the best features of the ‘Times of My Life’ app is that it will produce the obit in multimedia formats.

• Tap PDF to create a nicely formatted printed version.
• Use Audiocast to download an MP3 file.
• Click Video to download a high resolution video, complete with narration (if you choose a narrator), background music, and your uploaded images and video clips.

Remember, the obituary is a lasting tribute. Take the time to craft a beautiful and meaningful remembrance of your loved one.