From choosing a funeral home in Clarksville, TN to picking out flowers, there’s a lot to accomplish when you lose a loved one. This to-do list includes writing an obituary, especially if your lost loved one was a veteran of our nation’s armed services.

Obituaries are a traditional way to let family and friends celebrate the life of the deceased in a public way and announce the death in a compassionate manner. They are also important for veterans to show the community how the brave soldier gave of him or herself to our country. To be better prepared to write an obituary for your lost loved one, here are the common parts of obituaries:

Announcement of Death – Obituaries usually start with basic information such as the name, age, and place of residence of the deceased. This is followed by the death announcement, including the time and place of death. Most people choose to use a softer word or term that “death,” such as “passed away”, “died”, “went to be with the Lord” etc. Many people are unsure whether or not to list the cause of death in the obituary. At the end of the day, the cause of death is only the family’s business and does not need to be shared unless the immediate family chooses. However, if the death was sudden and unexpected, listing the cause of death in the public obituary might field questions and repetitions at the funeral.

Biographical Sketch – The keyword in this portion is “sketch.” Many people are tempted to write a full account of the deceased’s life. While some people may find that interesting or helpful, the obituary is only meant to detail the most important aspects of his life. Some key pieces to include are the date and place of birth, parent’s names including mother’s maiden name, date, and place of marriage, birth name of spouse, education, work, and military service. Feel free to list events chronologically, or to take a more creative approach.

Veteran Information – Be sure to include the details of your veteran’s service. Where did she or she serve? With which part of the armed forces? Are there any stories of his or her bravery or commitment to the country?

Family – As the saying goes, the funeral is for the living. The same can be said for the obituary, so a key element is listing the surviving family members and loved ones. Take care to not forget anyone, but don’t feel the need to list every single member of the extended family.

Service Times – While tradition varies on this element, most obituaries include funeral information so people can attend if they choose. List the essentials: time, full date and place of service along with the name of the officiate; time, full date and place of burial or interment if applicable; and finally, time, full date and place of visitation.

If you have more questions about obituaries or other aspects of service at a Clarksville, TN funeral home, just reach out to Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today.