Writing a death or funeral notice: how to let people know

The death of a loved one is a highly emotional and confusing time, along with taking the necessary time to grieve, there are arrangements that must be made and people to inform.

So, if you’re required to write a death announcement, where should you start and where should it go? Marc Allison, the Senior Funeral Planner at Salvos Funerals and experienced funeral sector advisor, has the advice you need.

“From personal experience, when someone passes away, phoning people to tell them someone has passed can be one of the most difficult things”, says Marc.

“However, communicating the passing and the details of the service can be made simpler from that point on”.

To begin with, you might prefer to ask your closest friends and relatives to inform others of the death of your loved one.

“It’s [also] becoming more and more common for families to share the news of a loved one’s passing on social platforms,” says Marc.

“While it can feel impersonal, it is actually a wonderful way to build a support network, as people are able to share their memories of your loved one and grieve together.” 

Sharing the details of the service

A death announcement should be written and published on your chosen platforms as soon as possible. When you are ready to publish your funeral announcement, Marc says it’s vital to check three things.

“First, check your spelling and dates,” he says. “Second, ensure the date of publication allows time for readers to act. Publishing an announcement the day before a service could deny people the chance to attend and pay their respects.

“Third, ask for help. It’s unrealistic to expect that you can manage everything that comes along with the death of a loved one alone.

Writing a death announcement takes time and care. While you choose exactly what you want to share in the announcement, it is important to include your loved one’s:

• Name, married and/or maiden
• Nickname (if relevant)
• Age
• Dates and places of birth and death
• Details of death (e.g. peacefully, sudden)
• Survived family
• Service details

You may also wish to include a quote, poem, lyrics, religious text or photo to your announcement.

“There is an urban myth that a death or funeral notice in the newspaper is necessary for legal purposes to notify different organisations,” says Marc. “That can happen later when the death certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages has been issued”.

Funeral notices in the newspaper used to be a standard part of any funeral arrangement but now they are rare. Marc says he has worked with many families who have chosen to send a text message and ask others to forward it on.

If you choose to announce your loved one’s passing this way, he suggests using the following format:

The funeral service for [your loved one] is due to take place at [time] on [day and date] at [venue]. Please share with others, as appropriate.

“Whatever format or platform you choose, we recommend working with key family members and friends to write the announcement,” says Marc. “As well as being cathartic, sharing the task of writing the announcement helps to ensure critical information isn’t forgotten, which is easy to do when you’re taken by grief.”

While there are now many different ways to share the news of a loved one’s passing and the time and location of a funeral or memorial service, Marc says there is no need to stress “the people that need to know are the ones who will almost invariably find out.”

And Salvos Funerals is here to guide you every step of the way. As Marc says; “We are here to help you through the grieving process in whatever way we can and can work with you to achieve the service your loved one would have wanted.”

Do you need more information? 

• You are welcome to contact us anytime. A Salvos Funerals team member is on-hand 24/7 to assist you.
  • NSW: Sydney 02 9119 9010| Central Coast to Newcastle 02 4300 3023 
  • VIC: Melbourne 03 9933 4680| Mornington Peninsula 03 5910 4500
  • ACT: Canberra and region 02 5119 3677

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