Obituary Information

When a loved one dies, many people have little experience with obituaries and are unsure how to proceed. Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about obituaries.

What is an obituary? An obituary is a published notice of a death. It typically includes a photograph and a short biography as well as details about funeral arrangements.

Is an obituary mandatory? The purpose of an obituary is to commemorate the life of someone who has died. It is not intended to announce the creation of an estate or opening of a will. It is not required at all but is expected in many families and social circles. If family members simply want to announce the date and time of the funeral and not include a biography, a much shorter death notice can be published.

When did the custom of publishing an obituary begin? The earliest obituaries appeared in the 1500s, shortly after the invention of the printing press. In the late 1800s, The Times of London began publishing more detailed obituaries and soon every newspaper included an obituary section. In the 1990s, online obituaries were introduced and have since become very popular.

What are the venues for publishing obituaries? An obituary can be published in a community newspaper or on the website of a newspaper. Both of these methods usually involve a fee. An obituary can also be posted on a memorial website. A fee is also required for this method, but will typically be less than the fee for newspaper publication.

What should be included in an obituary? The informational website Caring.com provides a detailed list of the information that should be included in an obituary and the order in which it should be mentioned.

Catie W.
September 24, 2010