Writing an obituary can be a lonely challenge during a difficult time. If you find yourself in this position, I am here to support you.
My goal is to bring obituaries to life. I use language to convey personality, share concise personal history, and craft a written legacy. I provide a variety of services to support you in the written memorialization of a loved one.
Through word-of-mouth referrals, I’ve recognized a deep need among those confronted with death and its associated commonplaces, such as obituaries, that often need attending to. Crafting an obituary can often feel overwhelming; it’s a challenge to sum up a life in a handful of words. I provide support and strategies to memorialize your loved one. I offer individual care during the writing process and have discovered, through my work and training, that this is where I am of greatest service to clients.
For a loved one: Writing a loved one’s life story is overwhelming no matter when you try.There is no right way to go about telling a life story, and much will depend on your loved one’s:
- desires (do they want to have a role in their obituary writing? If so, to what extent?)
- abilities (are they well enough to discuss the obituary?)
- level of interest (would they rather the obituary be written after they die?)
If you find yourself tasked with writing an obituary and would like support from a professional editor, writer, and writing consultant, I am here for you. If you would rather not write but would like to share stories and anecdotes of your loved one and see those stories woven into an obituary, I can provide that service too.
Finally, it can feel empowering, and cathartic, to participate in the composition of your own obituary. In my training as a death doula, writing my own obituary was a liminal task, a sublime experience. If you are interested in support as you draft your own obituary, I am here for you.
When to Hire an Obituarist
I work with individuals and families in all circumstances and encourage you to reach out as soon as you anticipate needing my services. We can then make a plan tailored to your needs. I can often provide 24-hour turnaround on drafts for obituaries that are contracted under immediate need terms. If you would prefer that I speak directly with family members and loved ones, an initial draft may take up to three days.
It is most common to write an obituary shortly after a loved one dies. It is also possible to involve a dying loved one in crafting their obituary. If you or a loved one have a terminal illness and would like to craft an obituary before death, I am available for such services as well.