Marshfieldnewsherald Obituary (2024)

FAQs

Is the obituary read at funeral? ›

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. It is something you and your family should be patient with when you are writing it.

Breakup and comeback (1997–2014)

After the release of their fifth album Back from the Dead (1997), the band had grown tired of touring, which led to the group disbanding.

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.

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.”

It can include, or exclude, anything the family wishes. Dear Abby: Here in the South, an ex-spouse is often listed this way: "Jane Doe of Memphis, Tenn., is the mother of his children." The primary reason is so the children feel their surviving parent, and the years their parents spent together, are acknowledged.

Concluding Message

Phrases like “We will always carry your memory in our hearts,” or perhaps a favorite quote of your loved one are heartfelt and personal.

Jot down the key facts first

First, you'll want to include the person's name, birth place, age, date of death, location and cause of death (optional). From there, Shain says you should go on to include other biographical staples such as “whether they got married, had kids, [details of] their careers and retirement.”

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.

Who normally reads the obituary? ›

During a funeral or memorial service, it is common for someone to stand up and read the obituary to the attendees. This reading may be performed by a family member, a close friend, or a designated individual.

The eulogy is a deeply personal reflection of someone's life. Family or friends usually give this speech. However, clergy or the funeral celebrant may read it for the family. As this is a very emotional time, some people may not feel comfortable delivering the eulogy to the congregation.

A funeral typically follows a structure that includes pre-service arrangements, an opening segment with welcome and acknowledgments, main service components like eulogies, readings, and music, followed by closing remarks or prayers, and often concludes with post-service events like a committal service and reception.

Editor Carol DeChant explains, "Obituaries are usually mini-biographies, focused on what a person did, but the eulogy is much deeper, more about who the person was... It's meant for the select group of people who knew and cared for that person, or who care for the survivors."