Crafting Meaningful Obituaries – General Guidance

1. Obituaries have multiple purposes. Reporting the news is only one of them, and it’s probably not the most important one.
2. Engaging, thoughtful, and moving obituaries tell a story. Details flesh out that story.
3. Obituary writers should get concurrence on tone from stake holders.
4. “The basics” – names, dates, locations, survivors – are secondary in a well-written obituary.
5. Testimonials, anecdotes, and action words enliven an obituary. A good obituary is more like a letter of recommendation than a resume. Templates limit creativity. Lists omit details.
6. Use a form to gather information. Ask for details that support assertions. Get the “why.”
7. A compelling lead does not start with someone’s birthplace or similar demographic fact. Consider the first-sentence list, a poem or quote, a characterization, or an anecdote.
8. Deal with the expected basics economically. Elevate, both in length and location, the essence of a person. Think about what you want an unborn generation to know. A person’s legacy is the difference they made.
9. Be wary of pitfalls, especially cliches.
10. Double-check facts. Use Microsoft Word or Grammarly to suggest mechanical corrections.
11. I don’t advocate using AI, but if you do, give the model enough data for it to avoid generic platitudes and cliches. Check the result and ask for modifications in tone.