Have you ever read through the obituaries in the newspaper? Do you ever wonder what you would write - or what people would write about you? An obituary is more than a public announcement of someone’s death.

Once the obituary is written, some families want to preserve it to have a lasting memory of their loved one lost. Do you know all the options for how to preserve this type of memory?

If you want to learn more about newspaper obituaries, then listen to this episode of Forever in their Hearts, where host Erik Reynolds talks with Valerie Martell, Director of Operations for Martin Brothers Funeral Services about writing and preserving them.

The process for writing and preserving an obituary is not typically something people know off the tops of their heads. This interview is a chance to learn advice from an industry professional.

Are Obituaries Mandatory?

Valerie kicks off the episode by discussing if it is necessary to have an obituary in the newspaper when someone dies.

Then Valerie draws from her experiences in the funeral industry and shares the advice she gives to people who ask her this question at the Martin Brothers funeral chapel in Vancouver.

Obituaries serve several purposes. Without preplanning your funeral services, you leave the choice about whether to have one to the loved ones you leave behind should the unthinkable occur.

How to Begin Writing an Obituary

Next Valerie describes the process to begin writing an obituary. She also provides answers to these questions during the podcast:

- What information does someone need about the deceased for an obituary?
- Is it okay to use information from family stories when writing an obituary?
- What are some other ways to get funeral information out to the public?

Now ask yourself these two questions:

Do I want to know more about writing an obituary for the newspaper?

Could I use tips to help me write an obituary?

If you answered “yes” to either or both questions then you may be interested in visiting this area of the Martin Brothers website.

Preserving an Obituary Beyond the Funeral

Valerie then discusses how people can preserve an obituary once it is written, including how she has preserved obituaries of her own departed loved ones.

Today’s technology allows Martin Brothers in Vancouver to offer families a wide range of options for preserving an obituary.

Valerie points out that Martin Brothers is committed to helping families and willing to brainstorm to come up with the best way to pass down an obituary to future generations.

The episode concludes with Valerie sharing advice for anyone writing an obituary for the newspaper or any other media outlet.

Do You Need Ideas for Writing an Obituary?

Would you like to know more about ways to get information out about a funeral? Do you have questions about any part of the obituary writing process? We invite you to share your questions and comments in the area below where we can discuss them with you.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services has more than 100 years of experience in providing thoughtful, dedicated services to families dealing with loss. If you are ready to take care of funeral pre-arrangements, have additional questions about their services, or are dealing with a loss, please contact them at their Vancouver office.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services

Vancouver: Funeral Services Centre
3398 Dunbar Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6S 2C1

Telephone Number: 778.330.7799
Toll Free Number: 1.800.382.2901
Fax Number: 778.330.7633

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinBrothersFuneralChapelsBcLtd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinbrothers1