Roy Hetland Funeral Home Obituaries (2024)

FAQs

What is the first line of an obituary? ›

Obituary Example 1:

“Our beloved [full name] tragically left us on [date of death]. Loved and missed by [list of family members]. [First name]'s passion for [hobbies/interests] touched all who knew them. Contributions to [charity], a cause close to their heart, are appreciated.”

Concluding Message

In the conclusion of the obituary, special requests may be made such as, “in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to…” or “Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at General Hospital for…” Some families make the final line a dedication honoring their loved one.

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.

Start the paragraph with the deceased's first name, and then “is survived by:” followed by the list of names. Appropriate immediate family: wives, husbands, brothers, sisters and parents are customarily listed, but you can add as many names as you think are most appropriate.

Some families make the final line a dedication honoring their loved one. Phrases like “We will always carry your memory in our hearts,” or perhaps a favorite quote of your loved one are heartfelt and personal. Other families select a short prayer, a religious quotation, or a line from a poem to place at the end.

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.

These are their four most common preoccupations: "I want to tell you that I love you." "I want to tell you that I forgive you." "Would you tell me that you love me?"

In most cases, obituaries do not include the names or nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws unless they were close to the deceased. Grandchildren are sometimes listed but often numbered instead (…he leaves behind 5 grandchildren).

[Full Name], aged [age of the deceased], passed away peacefully on [date of death], at [location of death]. He/she was born on [date of birth], in [birthplace], to [names of parents]. He/she was a proud resident of [city of residence] and was a 1975 graduate of Holy Cross High School.

How to stop crying at a funeral? ›

There are several things you can do physically, such as focusing on your breathing and sipping water, that will help prevent you from crying. Refocusing your thoughts is also a helpful way of stopping tears, which is best done by thinking about positive things.

Spouse. Children (in order of date of birth) Grandchildren. Siblings (in order of date of birth)

The Surviving Family

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.

The common order of family in an obituary is: A spouse or partner. Children and the spouses or partners of the children, whose names are set off with parentheses so that it looks like Child (Partner's First Name)

Opening – Start with the full name, date of birth, and date of death. Biographical Information – Provide a brief overview of their life, including education, career, and family. Achievements and Passions – Highlight notable achievements, hobbies, and interests.

Ideas for the Beginning Paragraph

On (day, date), (full name of deceased) of (city of residence) passed away at the age of ____ years. The family of (full name of deceased) of (city of residence) is saddened to announce his/her passing on (day, date) at the age of _____ years.