FAQs
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.
Why does it cost so much to put an obituary in the newspaper? ›
The cost of a newspaper obituary depends on the size of the newspaper's circulation, whether there's a photo, the number of days it will run, and the size of the obituary. Small towns may charge $50, but on average expect to pay at least $250 for the typical short obituary.
What should you not include in an obituary? ›
When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.
Do you include estranged family members in an obituary? ›
In general, it's best to avoid leaving out essential family members‚ even if they're estranged. This could cause hurt feelings.
Should an ex wife attend her ex husband's funeral? ›
Overall, you should consider the feelings of your ex-spouse's loved ones when deciding whether or not to attend. However, there are still a number of ways to express your sympathy. Consider sending a condolence letter to their family.
Is an ex-wife considered a surviving spouse? ›
To qualify as a surviving divorced spouse, you must meet the conditions below: Be at least age 60. Were married for at least 10 years. Have evidence of a finalized divorce.
What is the cheapest way to publish an obituary? ›
Publishing it in local or smaller metropolitan newspapers costs around $60 to start. Large metropolitan newspapers charge anywhere from $263 to several thousands of dollars. Cheaper alternatives to publishing in the newspaper include online-only newspapers, memorial websites and social media.
Do people get paid to write obituaries? ›
The estimated total pay for a Obituary Writer is $129,646 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $99,333 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
Do most people write their own obituary? ›
Most people hire writers to tackle their obituary. While there's nothing wrong with this, there's something far more impactful about telling your story in your own voice. There are a few great reasons to take this on, and you'll be glad that you did.
What to omit from an obituary? ›
When you begin writing the obituary, try to omit details that could be used for identity theft including:
- Deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name, mother's maiden name or employment history and home address.
- Personal information of the surviving relatives.
“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….”
Should you include your birthdate in an obituary? ›
Your birth date. This helps prevent identity theft. However, if you are going to ask a professional to write an obituary, the date of birth should be provided to the writer to help determine age at date of death and whether certain milestones have been achieved.
Why would someone not go to their parents' funeral? ›
Distance/Money - Sometimes living too far away and not being able to afford the extra expense for the bereavement flight, gas, time, hotel, or food is an acceptable reason to miss the memorial service. Too Emotional - Some people feel like they can't handle being at the funeral of a close loved one.
What is the proper way to list family members in an obituary? ›
The order should go as followed: spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, and siblings. It should be noted that nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws are typically unmentioned unless they were especially close to the deceased.
Why would a family not post 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.
What is proper etiquette when an ex spouse dies? ›
Should you still speak with your ex-spouse's family, it would be appropriate to extend your condolences. However, if your presence in the services will ruffle some feathers, it would be better to express sympathies from a distance. Sending funeral flowers and cards will suffice.
Is a dead spouse considered an ex? ›
"Ex" refers to someone with whom one is no longer involved and that someone somewhere made a choice in ending a relationship. "Single" refers to someone who has never married. Neither term is now, nor will ever be correct when referring to a late spouse or to a widowed person, respectively.
Who should be mentioned in an obituary? ›
When you list the survivors, make sure that you list them in order of closest relation to the deceased: spouse, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, parents, and siblings.
Are you widowed if your ex husband dies? ›
So the legal term used to describe a woman in this situation is a “surviving divorced wife,” and the Social Security checks she would qualify for are called “surviving divorced wife's benefits.” But I find that term a bit awkward. So I just call a woman whose ex-husband has died a “divorced widow.”
