An obituary is typically the last written record that will capture a life. In Latin, the word “obit” means death, and the word obituary has been used to refer to published death notices dating back to the 18th century, according to Funeral Consumers Information Society.
While once considered for people of prominence and soldiers, in the late 20th century obituary writing was reinvigorated by the rise of the “common man” obit, according to the Society. With the addition of online publishing, people have been able to write longer tributes and return to more detailed and creative writing of obituaries. But, besides capturing a glimpse into the life lived by the deceased, obituaries always have and continue to be the vehicle for informing.
“It is the public invitation to services,” says Stephanie Jones-Kastelic, Co-Owner Friedrich-Jones & Overman-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services in Naperville and Plainfield.
Because many feel overwhelmed by the process of writing and submitting obituaries, funeral directors typically offer this as a service.
“Our directors spend hours creating, proofing and submitting different versions to various newspapers and other outlets,” explains Jones-Kastelic. “There is a lot of interaction with the family to achieve a very meaningful result. Families want this type of assistance and need this assistance when a loved one passes.”
While more and more online options and social media venues are available for sharing obituaries, there is a need to continue to have obituaries in print as many people still consider this the place to go for information. Obituaries also serve a historic purpose. Many people use archived obituaries when researching details of their family tree.
Funeral directors can help with print platforms as well as other options. The funeral home itself provides a place for loved ones to get and disseminate information about the deceased. At Friedrich-Jones and Overman-Jones Funeral Homes their website includes an obituary notice, photo, social media sharing and even direct links to the charities families choose for memorial gifts.
When the need arises for an obituary for a loved one, or when considering pre-writing your own, tapping into the professional services of a funeral home provides help and direction. For more information, visit friedrichjones.com, or call the Naperville location at 630-355-0213 or Plainfield at 815-436-9221.
