Lasting reflection

 

Obituaries and Memorial Programs
Written with Style and Grace

Primary Contact 
Name 
Email 
Phone 
Message 
Product type and desired length[1] 
Date needed 
Decedent 
Full name 
Nickname[2] 
Title (e.g., Ms., Mrs., Dr.) 
Dates and places born and died 
Parents’ names 
Schools, degrees, fields of study, rears awarded 
Military service[3] 
Marriage(s) (place, date, name of spouse) or other-partner relationship 
How/where they met 
Other places decedent lived and date ranges[4]Date RangeCity or Town/State
Favorite place and why favorite 
Occupational highlights[5] 
Interests and hobbies[6] 
Social groups 
Religion[7] 
Volunteerism or philanthropy[8] 
Other Parties 
Children (names and current place of residence)[9]NameRelationshipCity or Town/State
Other relatives (names and current place of residence). Include deceased or prior spouses if relevant.NameRelationshipCity or Town/State
Service Arrangements 
Service type (e.g., “celebration of life,” “memorial service”) 
Location, date, and time 

Tell me about your loved one. Facts and stats are important. Memories are essential.

  1. Please provide a favorite memory here.
  1. How would friends describe him or her?
  1. Proudest accomplishment or body of work?
  2. Here are some character traits. Please choose five to seven that best fit the individual. In our interview, I will ask for anecdotes that illustrate some of those traits 

Accessible

Adaptable

Adventurous

Agreeable

Amiable

Appreciative

Articulate

Athletic

Benevolent

Brilliant

Calm

Captivating

Caring

Charismatic

Cheerful

Clever

Colorful

Compassionate

Confident

Conscientious

Considerate

Cooperative

Courageous

Courteous

Creative

Cultured

Curious

Daring

Decisive

Dedicated

Detailed

Dignified

Disciplined

Dynamic

Earnest

Efficient

Elegant

Empathetic

Energetic

Enthusiastic

Exciting

Fair

Faithful

Farsighted

Firm

Flexible

Focused

Forgiving

Freethinking

Friendly

Fun-loving

Generous

Gentle

Generous

Genuine

Good-natured

Gracious

Hardworking

Helpful

Honest

Honorable

Humble

Humorous

Idealistic

Imaginative

Independent

Innovative

Insightful

Intelligent

Intuitive

Kind

Knowledgeable

Logical

Lovable

Loyal

Methodical

Meticulous

Modest

Objective

Observant

Open

Optimistic

Organized

Passionate

Patient

Patriotic

Peaceful

Perceptive

Persuasive

Playful

Polished

Popular

Practical

Principled

Protective

Rational

Realistic

Reflective

Reliable

Resourceful

Respectful

Responsible

Romantic

Scholarly

Scrupulous

Selfless

Self-critical

Self-reliant

Sensitive

Sentimental

Serious

Skillful

Sociable

Sophisticated

Spontaneous

Steady

Strong

Studious

Stylish

Subtle

Sweet

Sympathetic

Thorough

Tolerant

Trusting

Understanding

Vivacious

Warm

Well-read

Well-rounded

Wise

Witty

[1] See “Products and Prices.” Indicate Obituary, Memorial Program, or “Both.” A memorial program needs room for service events and visuals. Its obituary component typically occupies a “half-sheet” (half of 8.5” x 11”). That allows about 200 words and leaves room elsewhere in the program for service events and visuals. Obituaries are often longer. Budget should influence desired length. 

[2] Note whether nickname is used publicly or just by family and close friends.

[3] Indicate branch, years, highest rank, function, where served, and medals or other recognition.

[4] If the reason for moving is noteworthy, please disclose.

[5] Include both core career positions and diversions of interest. List achievements and honors.

[6] Interests change as we age. Please tie them to a stage in life (e.g. “coached youth sports in his 40s”)

[7] Describe how important faith was and whether a specific church should be mentioned.

[8] Indicate why he/she chose that area of service or the charity.

[9] If there are children from multiple spouses, please indicate to which partner they belong.