Bcr News Obits (2024)

FAQs

What happens if no one writes an obituary? ›

Obituaries are not required by law , so the deceased's family might have chosen to forego publishing one. Publishing an obituary can be expensive , and the funds may be unavailable. The deceased has few family members or friends , so there might have, unfortunately, been no need for an obituary.

The Web site hosts obituaries and memorials for more than 70 percent of all U.S. deaths. Legacy.com hosts obituaries for more than three-quarters of the 100 largest newspapers in the U.S., by circulation.

D., Boston-based clinical psychologist, occasional obit reader, and author of the book How to Be Yourself. “They cause us to reflect on the narrative of our own life and what we want that life to mean. Young people especially might look to them for guidance, a way of tapping the wisdom of their elders.”

To start writing an obituary effectively, gather essential details about the deceased such as their full name, birth and death dates, and family members. Begin with a personal memory, announce the passing, then chronologically detail their life, adding anecdotes and achievements to personalize the tribute.

It is not considered disrespectful to not have an obit, and many families choose to skip them. Though there is no legal obligation to publish an obituary, families should make the decision based on their preferences, the wishes of their loved one, and the needs of their extended family and friend network.

Some may feel that it is too personal or private to share with the public, while others may not have the financial means to pay for its publication. Additionally, some families may prefer to grieve privately and not draw attention to the death.

North Dakota newspaper The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead ran what is certainly one of the shortest obituaries ever published. Accompanying a photograph and name of local resident Douglas Legler, the obit, which ran Wednesday, had just two simple words: “Doug died.”

An obituary is written to tell the story of your loved one. These will often be in the funeral program. There will even be a part of the funeral where the obituary will be silently read by everyone in attendance at the funeral.

Keep in mind the length: the average size of an obituary is approximately 200 words, but some publications may accept obituaries as long as 450 words or as short as 50 words.

A Fitting—and Safe—Tribute

Protect your loved one's identity even after they pass by avoiding using too many specific details in their obituary. Consider only using the first names of relatives, for instance. Or mention their military service but not their regiment number or other details.

Is it morbid to read obituaries? ›

Reading an obituary is not so much an act of mourning a death but of reviewing a life of notable accomplishment and celebrating it. Obituaries are capsule biographies. Still, obituaries concern death.

“It is with great sadness that the family of (deceased name) announce (his/her) passing….” “(Deceased name) will be sadly missed by ….” “Fondly remembered by….” “Forever remembered by….”

Obituary Example: Announcing a Celebration of Life

[Full name] left us on [date of death] at the age of [age]. To celebrate [first name]'s remarkable life, we gather on [date] at [location]. In lieu of traditional mourning, we request the joy of your company in bright colors, reflecting [first name]'s vibrant spirit.

If you like to be technical, names should be listed as follows: first name, spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname (ex: Tom (Sarah) Johnson). If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

Family Members of the Deceased

The primary responsibility for writing obituaries often rests with family members. When a person passes away, the assumed responsibility for obituary writing often falls on the family. There is, of course, a good reason for this.

There is no specific rule that requires you to publish an obituary right away. In most cases, people aim to publish an obituary 1-2 weeks following the passing of a loved one. However, publishing it months or even a year after a loved one's death is completely okay.

There could be several reasons why you're having difficulty finding an obituary. The person you're looking for may not have had an obituary, the newspaper that published it could have gone out of business, or it could have never been saved or digitized.