There are many ways to say farewell from formal funeral services to private home-setting celebrations. They all form a part of the way we say goodbye. Obituaries or death notices, however, are a public way we share our final farewell celebration. It is part of the way we say goodbye - the public posting of final words. Some obituaries indicate much thought and much reflection on the life that was lived.
A death notice is a minimal amount or notice. An obituary is usually a more detailed account of a person's life and is often prepared for the newspaper by the family, to be personal, yet submitted by the funeral home, to ease the family's burdens. Obituaries are a written form of collective remembrances. They remind us of others as well as ourselves - parents or grandparents of friends, the young suddenly departing, the loss of "valiant struggles" against diseases not yet cured. Depending on the newspaper, death notices may be published at no charge. There is usually a charge, however, for an obituary and photos or emblems, that charge normally being dependent on length.
When community members leave, whether we know them personally or not, we mark their time with us by publicly commemorating their passing and being a lasting tribute. The final words are one way we say goodbye and one way we will remember. These final words are often the way survivors pay tribute, perhaps make amends, and express hope for immortality.
When you meet with our qualified staff at the time of arrangements, we will guide you through the details of putting an obituary and/or death notice in the newspaper.