Simply Cremation Obituaries

Understanding the Importance of Funeral Planning with Simply Cremation

Planning a funeral can be an overwhelming task, especially during a time of grief. At Simply Cremation, located at 4010 North Weber Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 80907, their dedicated team understands the significance of honoring your loved one's memory while also considering your emotional and financial well-being. In this article, we will delve into the services and benefits offered by Simply Cremation, providing you with valuable insights to make informed decisions about funeral planning.

A Personalized Approach to Funeral Services

Simply Cremation is committed to providing personalized funeral services that cater to each family's unique needs and preferences. Their experienced staff takes the time to listen to your concerns, answer questions, and guide you through the entire process. From traditional cremation services to memorial ceremonies, they offer a range of options to ensure that your loved one's farewell is both dignified and meaningful.

Funeral Obiturary Search

Explore our extensive database to find and remember the lives of loved ones through millions of heartfelt obituaries

Search

Recent Funeral Home Obituaries

Robert Dale Howell Jr. - September 13, 1957 - April 03, 2021

Departed: 04/03/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Chesapeake, VA - Robert Dale Howell Jr., 63, passed away on April 3rd, 2021. He will be dearly missed.

View Full Obituary

Michael James Ruddy - September 11, 1940 - April 02, 2021

Departed: 04/02/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Hampton, VA - Michael James Ruddy, 80, passed away on April 2nd, 2021. He will be dearly missed.

View Full Obituary

Susan Swann Thomas - June 08, 1944 - April 01, 2021

Departed: 04/01/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Norfolk- Susan S. Thomas, 76, passed away April 1, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting her family.

View Full Obituary

Miroslav T. Stevanovic - November 09, 1951 - March 30, 2021

Departed: 03/30/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach, VA - Miroslav Stevanovic, 69, passed away on March 30th, 2021. He will be dearly missed.

View Full Obituary

Matthew Slayton - September 20, 1955 - March 28, 2021

Departed: 03/28/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Matthew C. (Uncle Matt) Slayton lost his fight with cancer and died on March 28th 2021 in Virginia Beach at the age of 65.

Matthew was born in Pensacola Florida on September 20th 1955 to Gerald C. and Beverly J. Slayton. He is preceded in death by his father Gerald C. Slayton, his sister Karen Pallette, nephew John K. Slayton Jr. And great nephew Hayden Chesser.

Uncle Matt as he was known by the family is survived by his mother Beverly J. Slayton, brother John K. Slayton Sr. and wife Paige L. Slayton and nieces and nephews Amy, Cole, Brooke, and Gerald. Sister Jill Gurley and husband Rex Gurley and nephews Billy and Christopher. Uncle Matt is also survived by his 15 great nieces and nephews who were his pride and joy.

Uncle Matt was always there when anybody needed anything and he will be missed by everyone.

The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who were involved in his care.

View Full Obituary

Harold Samuel Bush - August 21, 1932 - March 26, 2021

Departed: 03/26/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach, VA - Harold Samuel Bush, 88, passed away on March 26th, 2021. He will be dearly missed.

View Full Obituary

Edwina Barrera - January 17, 1946 - March 24, 2021

Departed: 03/24/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Norfolk, VA - Edwina Barrera, 75, passed away on March 24th, 2021. She will be dearly missed. Online condolences made be made at www.simplycremationonline.com

View Full Obituary

John Henry Garris Jr. - February 05, 1944 - March 24, 2021

Departed: 03/24/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach, VA - JOHN HENRY GARRIS, JR. (John boy, Johnny, Big John) 77, passed away peacefully March 24, 2021 at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital after a courageous battle against septic shock (sepsis). John was born February 5, 1944 in Portsmouth, Virginia to John H. Garris and Denise Osmundson who predeceased him, as well as his much loved brother, Dennis Osmundson. He had two daughters, Michele and Jennifer Garris, from a previous marriage to the late Cheryl House Ward. Debbie Perry and Denyce Polins are his sisters. His nieces and nephews are Christy Cumbo, Brian Osmundson, Robert Hassell, Kathryn McCurdy and Anne Hoehn. John leaves behind a host of friends whose lives he touched-too many to name. John’s life and memory will be cherished by Patricia Hassell-Garris, his devoted wife and partner of 45 years.

Where do you start when a man was larger than life, the salt of the earth, a legend to many and the love of my life. John was a true Irishman with a big bark but a teddy bear at heart. John had many professions. He started early working in grocery stores, primarily in produce, learned upholstery repair at Sears, installed chain link fences, and worked for the railroad just to name a few. A 1963 graduate of Norview High School, he made many lasting friendships. Growing up he spent a lot of time in Ghent with his cousin, Buzzy Dorr (George), and lifelong friend, Larry Dozier with no shortage of mischief. Quite a bit of that time was spent at their great aunts’ Gina and Teesa. After high school, he became a merchant seaman, married and started a family. Soon after, he joined the Norfolk Fire Department. He and his mentor, John Phipps (a close firefighter family) had a cement company. He also built houses with another firefighter in Blackwater. John was never afraid of hard work and most times had up to three jobs. At one time, John was interested in antiques and restoration. In 1976 he sold his four- family apartment building in Ocean View where he and his cohorts lived and bought Butch Brantley’s Public Steak House with John George. They established the SECOND ALARM RESTAURANT (a tribute to his love of firefighting & museum to the same). With his love of food and cooking, (self taught), he prepared meals for many a hungry fire crew at the station, as well as cooking at the Alarm. His main cook and beloved friend, Isaiah Jackson, set out to create the best Prime Rib around and succeeded along with fresh seafood cuisine. In addition to his firefighter family, he developed a bond within the restaurant community and those friendships spanned more than Virginia Beach. There were more than one joint adventure with the Radognas, close friends from the THIRSTY CAMEL and Ocean View crowd. He was always willing to give a helping hand and the type of person to give you “the shirt off his back”. John didn’t hesitate to give someone a second chance and more. John was strong willed and not afraid to stand his ground and then move on. The SECOND ALARM was an independent restaurant on Shore Drive, West of the Lesner Bridge. There, another family was built by John, besides it being a family business, there were other families included in the crew. Soon after, customers who grew up coming to the restaurant joined the payroll. Several employees met their spouses at the Alarm. One could say it was a family love connection. We hosted Firefighter Retirement Parties, annual ski trips to Seven Spring and a party bus to Ocean View’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. There are too many celebrations to mention. Tragedy struck and the Alarm suffered a devastating 2Alarm fire. It took a year to rebuild with the help of John Phipps, another legend. By this time, John’s stepfather, Wilber Osmundson, was his silent partner. Not long after reopening, John decided to retire from NFD. He eventually went back to sea cooking on tugboats and even worked on the oil recovery ship based in Norfolk. In addition to that he started and drove a limousine service with Kim Gregory. Fellow firefighter, Miller Mears, was one of our main drivers.

John never liked being alone which was evident in the brotherhood and camaraderie he shared with so many people throughout his life that was full of zest, tragedy and love. A love of people, a terrific storyteller, he was always coming up with comedic idioms. John boy had a great love for firefighting and fellow firefighters. This connection continued after his retirement. He was awarded “Firefighter of the Year”, for saving another firefighter in 1985.I was often told of John’s fearlessness. He was encouraged to study to become an officer, but he was content doing the job of fighting fires. Firefighters see a lot of sadness and are jolted out of sleep to serve their community and they have nightmares over it; they are courageous people with huge hearts.

Always having a love of the water and fishing, we would drive on the beach at Oregon Inlet in his CJ5 and surf fish for hours on end. At one point, he had a fleet of boats: a 26’ Sea Ox, a Chesapeake deadrise crab boat that dear NFD Billy and Gary Rafter helped crab, and a 40’ double tong clam boat-The Manatee, a venture with high school and NFD brother, Frank Phelps.

John loved our labs and over the years was softened by a feral cat that adopted us and they were best friends who would have conversations every morning-Imagine that! We rescued another kitty who he adored. They became best buds and had their daily rituals. Before Cupid, we fostered and rescued our abused black lab. At first he was leery of men, loved women and a little wild and crazy; so much so, we named him after his brother only to wonder if we had reincarnated Oz.

Everyone knew John’s love for cars, from his first car, a 1950 Ford, to a hotrod Pops made him return, the man bought cars like regular oil changes. He eventually became a used car wholesaler, enter in a new family of friends. John was a people person and he welcomed strangers from all walks of life with a kind heart. Some, but not many, know he even went back to school for his CDL license and was Hazmat certified. He also worked as a butcher. After recovering from the fire, he had a garage built on the property that eventually became OPYC (penned by the late Sam Jones), his private pool room where he hosted mostly lifelong Norview and firefighter buddies-over the years more friends were included. After selling the Alarm business, it was a gathering place and even had our famous jukebox and the many records that employees and customers knew the words to and the numbers to push by heart. Ray Revell was great at keeping it in working order. John enjoyed going on cruises to the islands with family and friends and especially exploring Alaska. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention his love for Harley’s. The poker runs and Harley rider breakfasts at the Alarm were always a hit. We really enjoyed Bike Week in Daytona and Myrtle Beach. There was no shortage of hogs, choppers, and trikes with amazing custom designs.

Dockside became another haunt with laughter and good times and with age and Covid, life changed somewhat with only outdoor lunches with friends. Many thanks to those who were able to visit and call to lift John’s spirits, Boy Roy, David, Don, Danny, Bill, Buddy, Alex, Whaley, Lucky, our family, Clara,Tany, Bryan, Bob, Donna, and their kids, so many of you know who you are and what you all meant to this wonderful one of a kind man we all loved. Thank you, John Murray, for assisting me with John for his appointments. I am so grateful for everyone who helped with and celebrated John boy’s 75th surprise birthday party. So glad we have that recent memory along with the multitude of SECOND ALARM HAPPY HOURS! As previously stated, “Our Loss is Heaven’s Gain”! One of the greatest feelings anyone can experience is to know that you are truly and deeply loved and I can honestly say that John gave that to me. See you on the other side.

For years John was very explicit with his wishes for when he left this earth. There will be a Commemorative Affair in early May at Bucketheads Beach Grill formerly The Second Alarm Restaurant, 3657 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA If you plan to attend, please send your contact information to: Johnboy2Alarm@aol.com or reach out to me, Patsy. Again, thank you for all the kind words and beautiful cards, your support means the world to me.

View Full Obituary

Dorothy Mary Murphy - June 29, 1937 - March 23, 2021

Departed: 03/23/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Dorothy M. Murphy, 83, passed away March 23, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting her family.

View Full Obituary

Jeremy Ryan Brock - February 07, 1990 - March 21, 2021

Departed: 03/21/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Hampton, VA - Jeremy Ryan Brock, 31, passed away on March 21st, 2021.

View Full Obituary

Gretchen VanderHill Barnes - November 09, 1974 - March 21, 2021

Departed: 03/21/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach, VA - Gretchen VanderHill Barnes, 46, passed away on March 21st, 2021.

View Full Obituary

Emiliano Bega - January 11, 1970 - March 19, 2021

Departed: 03/19/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Emiliano Bega, 51, passed away March 19, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting his family.

View Full Obituary

Vlastimil Josef Bruckner - March 18, 1927 - March 18, 2021

Departed: 03/18/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Vlastimil Josef Bruckner, 97, passed away March 18, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting his family.

View Full Obituary

Stephen Paul Grether - December 12, 1958 - March 18, 2021

Departed: 03/18/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Portsmouth- Stephen P. Grether, 62, passed away March 18, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting.

View Full Obituary

Linton Dawkins - Unknown - March 17, 2021

Departed: 03/17/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Langley AFB- Hampton - Linton Dawkins, 78, passed away March 17, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting his family.

View Full Obituary

Michael Gordono - April 25, 1939 - March 17, 2021

Departed: 03/17/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Michael Gordono, 81, passed away on March 17, 2021. His services will be held at a later date by the direction of his family.

View Full Obituary

Neil Austin Waight - February 18, 1982 - March 16, 2021

Departed: 03/16/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Neil A. Waight, 39, passed away March 16, 2021. Simply Cremation is assisting his family.

View Full Obituary

Dolores Wiley - April 23, 1955 - March 16, 2021

Departed: 03/16/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Dolores Wiley, 65, passed away on March 16, 2021. Her services will be held at a later date by the direction of her family.

View Full Obituary

Kathleen McDonough - June 18, 1943 - March 16, 2021

Departed: 03/16/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Kathleen Mcdonough, 77, passed away on March 16, 2021. Her services will be held at a later date by the direction of her family.

View Full Obituary

AshLynn Nicole Cannon - February 24, 1990 - March 15, 2021

Departed: 03/15/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach, VA - AshLynn Nicole Cannon, 30, passed away on March 15th, 2021. She will be dearly missed.

View Full Obituary

William Kidd - January 01, 1939 - March 14, 2021

Departed: 03/14/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: William Kidd, 82, passed away on March 14, 2021. His services will be held at a later date by the direction of his family.

View Full Obituary

Jack White Fentress - June 01, 1927 - March 13, 2021

Departed: 03/13/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Jack White Fentress, who was 93 years old, passed away peacefully in the presence of his daughter and grandson very early Saturday morning March 13, 2021 at Commonwealth Senior Living at Kings Grant in the care of their staff and Medi Home Health and Hospice. So grateful to them for their loving care.

His loving wife Virginia Lee Coley Fentress preceded him in death in June 2017. They had been married for 68 years at that time, as they married in November of 1949 at Rosemont Christian Church. Also preceding him were his mother Roxie Etta White Fentress and father Archie Littleton Fentress of Chesapeake and brothers Elbert Fentress, Clyde Fentress, and Ray Fentress.

Jack was a graduate of Portlock High School. His parents originated from Knotts Island. Jack worked for Caparts Market in Portlock for a few years, learning the craft of being a butcher at the early age of 12. Following high school, he joined the Army for 3 and a half years and became a Sargent until his honorable discharge. While in the Army he drove tanks and was an excellent marksman on the range. Ultimately, he ran the mess halls where he also had German prisoners working under him, taught cooking, and also cared for and fed the paratroopers who had unsuccessful landings and had to endure their mouths being wired. He used to talk about standing watch in a tower at the Portlock Fire Department looking for any approaching German planes during WWll for about a year. He worked for Texas Oil Company. He helped build the parsonage for Portlock United Methodist Church which happened to be next door to the family home.

As a master carpenter, he went to work at Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge, on the ICW, Chesapeake, VA where he managed the Carpenter shop. There he soon became the yards General Manager and later also VP. He retired from the yard after approx. 33+ years and continued to consult for another 5. He dearly loved the boat yard and all the people that worked there. He considered them all family and talked of them right up to his passing. He loved all the customers who quickly became and remained friends with him and his family to this day. He and Virginia never hesitated to open the doors of their home and to care for customers of the yard who needed help or had become sick or injured. Jack and Virginia were the ultimate caregivers.

Jack was a devoted and loving husband to Virginia. He loved bringing her flowers and other gifts, which he would do often. He loved listening to her play the piano and sing. Jack had a huge garden in the backyard and grew everything. He was also an avid fisherman and absolutely loved being on the water. Jack and Virginia had a second home in Cape Hatteras for many years and were long time members of the Hatteras Marlin Club. He was also very gracious in sharing his catches. He loved to feed people. All were welcomed at their table. The more the merrier. He was very generous and loved caring for people and helped anyone who needed it. He had a great sense of humor and was quite the practical joker. He and Virginia loved to go out dancing and listen to music with friends. He knew the importance of vacationing and he ensured the family took many great trips over the years. He was a very happy person and fun to be around. He participated in anything and everything his daughters were involved in. He and Virginia were very present parents. He was very kind, a real gentleman and a gentle person. He loved children, loved animals, especially his new best friend the family Labrador, Mason and a cat named Lulu. He was quick to offer a compliment to anyone or words of encouragement. He took pride in how he treated people and treated all people with care and respect. He loved teaching all kinds of skills, a great mentor. He loved music and was always looking for someone to play his favorite song “Rutabaga I Love You” (and no, it does not exist), however he did in fact love Rutabagas. He later attended Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church in VA Beach with his family for as long as he was able. He genuinely loved and enjoyed being there.

Jack made a practice of saying to anyone he met, “I Love You” and always offering an outreached hand and a smile. One of the last comments he made before passing was “I HAVE LIVED A VERY GOOD LIFE”….and he certainly did. Jack leaves behind two daughters, Terry Lee Fentress Connelly, son-in-Law Timothy M Connelly, grandson Jack ‘Tyler’ Kruger (girlfriend Kenzie Goodwin) of VA Beach, VA, and Toni Ferguson and two granddaughters, Hailey and Holly Ferguson of VA Beach, VA

A private (due to Covid) Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

View Full Obituary

Larry Reid Collier - November 17, 1948 - March 10, 2021

Departed: 03/10/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Virginia Beach- Larry Reid Collier passed away peacefully at home on March 10, 2021. Born on November 17, 1948, he was the son of the late Genevieve and Norman Collier. He grew up with his seven siblings, Gerry, Linda, Bobby, Johnny, Glenn, Kathy and Mike. Linda and Johnny are already in heaven to welcome him. Larry graduated with honors from Bayside High School’s first graduating class in 1967 and went on to graduate from Old Dominion University’s School of Engineering in 1973. He practiced as a consulting electrical engineer for over 40 years in the Tidewater area. Larry served as a Sunday school teacher and youth group leader for the Haygood and Great Bridge United Methodist Churches. As the founder of the Phileo-Phoundation, Larry wrote and published ten books about God’s Love and Brotherly Love. Larry’s memory will be cherished by his wife Donna, their three children, Corrie, Stephen and Ryan and their three grandchildren, Zolan, Lydia and Gabriella. He will also be missed by his very large extended family and many friends. The family is requesting no flowers and will have a private celebration of Larry’s life in the near future. As an Advocate of Brotherly Love, Larry would want you to donate to the Child Advocacy Center at CHKD https://www.chkd.org/childadvocacycenter/ or to a charity that is closest to your heart.

View Full Obituary

Lois Young - March 24, 1927 - March 10, 2021

Departed: 03/10/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Lois Young, 94, passed away on March 10, 2021. Her services will be held at a later date by the direction of her family.

View Full Obituary

John Samuel Swanton - January 22, 1925 - March 07, 2021

Departed: 03/07/2021 (Virginia Beach)

Obituary Preview: Newport News- John (Jack) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and married his high school sweetheart, Doris. Jack was in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII. He and his family came to the United States in 1959, where he spent most of his career with General Motors. Jack was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, who recently celebrated 60 years as a Free Mason. He was a good, simple, caring man who loved his family dearly. He was 96. He leaves behind his wife of nearly 74 years, 2 daughters, and 4 grandchildren.

View Full Obituary

123Next ›Last »

The Benefits of Pre-Planning with Simply Cremation

Pre-planning a funeral can bring peace of mind and alleviate the burden on your loved ones during a difficult time. By making arrangements in advance, you can:

• Lock in costs at today's prices, protecting your family from future inflation
• Ensure that your final wishes are respected and carried out according to your desires
• Reduce the emotional stress on your family by having a clear plan in place

Simply Cremation offers pre-planning services, allowing you to take control of your funeral arrangements and make informed decisions about your legacy.

Cremation Options: Understanding Your Choices

Cremation has become an increasingly popular choice for many families, offering a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burials. Simply Cremation provides various cremation options, including:

• Direct cremation: A simple and cost-effective option that eliminates the need for embalming and viewing
• Cremation with memorial service: A ceremony held after the cremation process, allowing friends and family to pay their respects
• Cremation with traditional funeral service: A full-service funeral followed by cremation

Their knowledgeable staff will help you navigate these options, ensuring that you choose the best fit for your loved one's farewell.

Green Burial Options: An Eco-Friendly Alternative

For those concerned about the environmental impact of traditional funerals, Simply Cremation offers green burial options. This eco-friendly approach focuses on minimizing waste, using biodegradable materials, and promoting natural decomposition. Their green burial packages include:

• Eco-friendly caskets made from sustainable materials
• Natural burial sites that promote reforestation and habitat preservation
• Carbon-neutral cremation processes

By choosing a green burial option, you can honor your loved one's memory while also contributing to a more sustainable future.

Veterans' Services: Honoring Those Who Served

Simply Cremation recognizes the sacrifices made by our nation's veterans and their families. They offer specialized services to honor those who have served, including:

• Veterans' discounts on cremation and funeral services
• Patriotic ceremonies and tributes to acknowledge their service
• Assistance with obtaining veterans' benefits and paperwork

Their compassionate staff is dedicated to ensuring that veterans receive the respect and gratitude they deserve.

Grief Support: Coping with Loss Together

Losing a loved one can be a devastating experience, leaving behind a void that seems impossible to fill. Simply Cremation understands the importance of grief support during this difficult time. They offer:

• Bereavement counseling sessions with trained professionals
• Support groups for families and individuals coping with loss

Their commitment to grief support ensures that you don't have to face your emotions alone.

A Legacy of Compassion and Care: The Simply Cremation Difference

In times of sorrow, it's essential to have a trusted partner by your side. Simply Cremation has built a reputation on compassion, integrity, and exceptional service. By choosing them for your funeral needs, you can rest assured that:

• Your loved one will be treated with dignity and respect throughout the entire process
• You'll receive personalized attention from experienced professionals who care
• You'll have access to a range of services tailored to meet your unique needs

At Simply Cremation, their mission is to provide a comforting presence during life's most challenging moments, helping you create a lasting tribute to your loved one's memory.

Contacting Simply Cremation: Taking the First Step Towards Healing

If you're facing the loss of a loved one or wish to pre-plan your own funeral arrangements, contact Simply Cremation today. Their caring staff is available to answer questions, provide guidance, and offer support during this difficult time.

You can reach them at (phone number) or visit their website at (website URL). Located at 4010 North Weber Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 80907, Simply Cremation is committed to serving families in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas with compassion, dignity, and respect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an obituary?

An obituary is a written notice that announces the death of a person, typically including their name, age, date of birth and death, and a brief biography. It's usually published in a newspaper, online obituary platform, or funeral home website to inform friends, family, and community members of the passing.

Why are obituaries important?

Obituaries serve as a way to honor and celebrate the life of the deceased, while also providing essential information for those who want to pay their respects. They help to notify people of the passing, share details about the funeral or memorial service, and provide a sense of closure for loved ones.

Who writes an obituary?

Typically, the obituary is written by a family member, close friend, or funeral home staff. In some cases, a professional obituary writer may be hired to craft the notice. The writer should have intimate knowledge of the deceased's life, personality, and accomplishments.

What information should be included in an obituary?

A standard obituary includes the person's full name, age, date of birth and death, city of residence, and details about their surviving family members. You may also want to include their occupation, hobbies, achievements, and any notable contributions they made to their community.

How long should an obituary be?

The length of an obituary can vary greatly, depending on the publication's guidelines and the family's preferences. Typically, it ranges from a few sentences to several paragraphs. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 150-250 words.

Can I include photos in an obituary?

Yes, many publications and online platforms allow you to include one or more photos with the obituary. This can be a great way to personalize the notice and make it more engaging. Be sure to check with the publication or platform for their photo submission guidelines.

How much does it cost to publish an obituary?

The cost of publishing an obituary varies widely depending on the publication, its circulation, and the length of the notice. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more. Some online platforms offer free or low-cost options.

Can I write my own obituary?

Yes, it's becoming increasingly popular for people to write their own obituaries before they pass away. This can be a therapeutic exercise that allows you to reflect on your life and leave a lasting message for loved ones.

What is a death notice?

A death notice is a brief announcement that simply states the person's name, age, and date of death. It's often used when a full obituary is not feasible or desired.

What is the difference between an obituary and a eulogy?

An obituary is a written notice that provides factual information about the deceased, while a eulogy is a spoken tribute that celebrates their life and shares personal anecdotes.

Can I include humor in an obituary?

Absolutely! Humor can be an effective way to capture the personality and spirit of the deceased. Just be sure to keep it tasteful and respectful.

How do I submit an obituary to a newspaper?

Contact the newspaper's obituary department directly to inquire about their submission process and deadlines. You may need to provide the written obituary, along with any required documentation and payment.

Can I publish an obituary online?

Yes! There are many online platforms that allow you to publish an obituary, such as Legacy.com, Tributes.com, or FuneralHomes.com. These sites often offer additional features like guest books and condolence messages.

How long does it take for an obituary to be published?

The publication timeline varies depending on the newspaper or online platform. Some may publish same-day or next-day, while others may take several days or even weeks.

Can I edit an obituary after it's been published?

In most cases, edits can be made prior to publication. However, once it's been published, changes may be difficult or impossible to make. Be sure to proofread carefully before submitting the final version.

What if I need to correct an error in an already-published obituary?

Contact the publication or online platform immediately to report the error. They may be able to issue a correction or reprint the revised obituary.

Can I include charitable donations in an obituary?

Yes! Many families choose to include information about charitable donations in lieu of flowers. This can be a meaningful way to honor the deceased and support a worthy cause.

How do I handle sensitive information in an obituary?

If there are sensitive issues surrounding the death or personal life of the deceased, it's best to exercise discretion when writing the obituary. Consult with family members or close friends to determine what information should be shared publicly.

Can I include quotes or lyrics in an obituary?

Absolutely! Quotes, lyrics, or poems can add depth and personality to an obituary. Choose something that resonates with the deceased's spirit or reflects their values.

What if I'm struggling to write an obituary?

Drawing inspiration from memories and stories about the deceased can help get you started. If you're still struggling, consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member, or hiring a professional writer.

How do I preserve an online obituary?