Writing an obituary can feel like a heavy responsibility. You may be trying to summarize a whole life while also managing service details, family names, emotions, and decisions that need attention. It is normal to feel unsure where to begin.
A meaningful obituary does not have to capture every story. It should share the essential information, honor the person with warmth, and help family, friends, neighbors, and community members know how to offer support.
At Didericksen Memorial, families can receive help preparing and sharing obituary information. Jay R. Didericksen and the Didericksen Memorial team can guide the process with care. For help at any hour, call (435) 277-0050.
START WITH THE ESSENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The first paragraph usually states the person's full name, age, place of residence, and date of death. Some families include the place of death or a short phrase about the circumstances, while others keep that information private.
A simple opening might read:
"Mary Elaine Jensen, 82, of Grantsville, Utah, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, surrounded by her family."
or
"Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend, David Lee Anderson, passed away on June 10, 2026, at the age of 74."
The tone can be formal, simple, faith-filled, or personal. Choose a tone that fits the family and the person being remembered.
INCLUDE FAMILY INFORMATION CAREFULLY
Obituaries often name close family members. This may include a spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and family members who died before the person.
Before writing, it helps to make a family list and confirm spelling. Blended families, stepchildren, chosen family, and estranged relationships can require extra care. There is no single rule that fits every family, so use language that is accurate and respectful.
Common wording includes:
• She is survived by...
• He was preceded in death by...
• She leaves behind...
• He will be lovingly remembered by...
If the family is large, it is acceptable to summarize some groups rather than listing every name.
SHARE THE SHAPE OF THE PERSON'S LIFE
After the basic announcement, the obituary can share important life details. This section may include birth, childhood, education, military service, marriage, work, community involvement, faith, hobbies, and the roles the person cherished most.
You might consider:
• Where they were born and raised
• Important schools, service, or career paths
• Marriage and family milestones
• Faith or community involvement
• Volunteer work
• Hobbies, talents, or favorite places
• Personality traits people will remember
• Values they lived by
The goal is not to list a resume. The goal is to help readers recognize the person.
ADD PERSONAL DETAILS THAT MAKE IT FEEL LIKE THEM
The most memorable obituaries often include small details. A person might be remembered for Sunday dinners, a workshop full of tools, a garden, handwritten birthday cards, fishing at sunrise, quilting, singing in church, cheering at ball games, or telling stories on the porch.
Specific details can make the obituary feel human and true.
Instead of:
"He loved his family."
You might write:
"He never missed a chance to cheer for his grandchildren, whether from the bleachers, the sidelines, or a folding chair in the driveway."
Instead of:
"She enjoyed cooking."
You might write:
"Her kitchen was the place where neighbors, cousins, and grandchildren always knew they would be fed."
These details do not need to be dramatic. They simply need to be honest.
GIVE CLEAR SERVICE INFORMATION
An obituary should tell people how to honor the person and support the family. Include the date, time, and location of the visitation, viewing, funeral, memorial service, graveside service, or celebration of life when those details are ready.
Include:
• Type of gathering
• Date and time
• Location name
• Street address
• Whether there will be a visitation or viewing
• Cemetery or graveside information when applicable
• Any family instructions for guests
If plans are still being arranged, the obituary can say that service details will be announced later.
REVIEW ACCURACY BEFORE PUBLISHING
Before the obituary is shared, ask one or two trusted people to review it. They should check names, dates, spellings, service times, addresses, and any sensitive family details.
Helpful review questions include:
• Is the full legal name correct?
• Are family names spelled correctly?
• Are service dates and times accurate?
• Is the location address complete?
• Are any private details included that the family would rather leave out?
• Does the tone feel respectful and true?
This careful review can prevent confusion later.
KEEP THE OBITUARY FOCUSED AND READABLE
Some lives could fill a book. An obituary has a smaller job. It should give readers enough to understand the person's life, know how to support the family, and feel invited into remembrance.
Use clear paragraphs. Avoid trying to include every achievement, every trip, or every story. Choose details that represent the person well.
If several family members have different stories they want included, consider saving some for the service, a printed program, a memory table, or a family keepsake.
A SIMPLE OBITUARY STRUCTURE
Families who feel stuck can use this structure:
- Opening announcement
- Birth and early life
- Family, marriage, work, service, or community details
- Personal qualities and favorite memories
- Surviving family and those who died before
- Service information
- Closing message or family note
This structure can be adjusted to fit the person and the family.
OBITUARIES AND FUNERAL PLANNING IN TOOELE COUNTY
In Tooele County, an obituary often reaches more than immediate relatives. It may be read by neighbors, classmates, church members, coworkers, veterans organizations, former teammates, and longtime friends across Grantsville, Tooele, Stansbury Park, Erda, Lake Point, Stockton, and nearby communities.
That local connection matters. A clear obituary helps the community know how to gather, remember, and support the family.
If you need help writing an obituary or planning next steps, call Didericksen Memorial 24/7 at (435) 277-0050.
