Writing Obituaries That Actually Work
Obituary writing is one of those tasks everyone has to do at some point and almost no one knows how to do well. You get a call or an email, the family is still processing things, and you need to produce something that does justice to the person while also meeting newspaper requirements. It is more technical than most people realize. When I first started dealing with obituary submissions for Pennsylvania publications, I quickly learned that the requirements vary wildly between outlets. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette operates differently from the Allentown Morning Call, which operates differently from smaller county weeklies. Understanding these differences matters more than getting the wording perfect. The core structure is straightforward: full legal name, age, city of residence, date of death, a brief biography covering key life events, survivors, and service information. But the execution is where things go wrong. I once submitted an obituary for a Vietnam veteran where I accidentally listed his branch as Army when it was actually Army Reserve. The funeral director caught it before publication, but it showed me how easy it is to make assumptions about military service details. Always verify the exact branch, rank, and any medals or unit designations with the family or discharge papers.
Length is another trap. Most newspapers charge by the line or by the column inch. If you exceed the allotted space without warning, you either pay extra or the editor trims content they consider less important. I learned to draft the full version first, then condense it to fit the standard word count for each publication. Typically I aim for 200 to 300 words for local papers and up to 500 for larger metros. Anything longer usually gets cut anyway. Survivor notation order is a detail that causes more friction than you would expect. Pennsylvania newspapers generally follow a standard order: surviving spouse first, then children in age order, followed by grandchildren, parents, and siblings. But some families have complicated dynamics, and you need to ask the family directly how they want people listed. Do not assume. I had a case where a widow wanted her second husband listed before her deceased first husband, and the obituary needed to reflect that clearly. It was sensitive but straightforward once we discussed it. Service information should include the date, time, and location of the funeral or memorial, plus any visitation details. If the family prefers private services, state that plainly rather than omitting the information entirely. Phrases like "private family service" or "memorial gathering at a later date" are acceptable and common.
Different publications have different submission processes. Some accept email submissions with a word processing attachment. Others require online forms through their advertising departments. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News both use an online obituary submission portal where you fill in fields rather than pasting free text. This format control actually helps prevent errors because it forces you to separate biographical details from service information. I prefer these systems because there is less back-and-forth with editors about formatting. One thing beginners consistently miss is the death date verification. I spent ten minutes trying to figure out why an obituary was being held up before realizing I had the wrong calendar date because I misread "March 4th" as the 14th. It sounds trivial but it happens. Double check everything, especially dates and names of predeceased relatives. For those looking for resources, many Pennsylvania funeral homes maintain template libraries that are useful starting points. The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association does not publish a specific obituary template, but individual member papers often provide guidelines on their websites. The State College Style Guide, used by the State College Bureau of The Associated Press, has a section on obituary writing that is worth reading for understanding regional expectations around tone and content.
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Obituaries serve a practical purpose beyond remembrance. They fulfill legal notification requirements in some cases and help connect distant relatives who may have lost touch. Getting it right matters more than making it elegant. Accuracy first, sentiment second, style last.
