Even half a century ago, the word "obituary" and its meaning were known to everyone. Now only a few remember or know what it is.
The concept of an obituary and its history
The concept of "obituary" (from the Greek. "dead word") came to us from those times when journalism was in its infancy, and the art of literature was incredibly popular and in demand. In ancient Rome, Greece and other places, it was customary to make speeches at funerals, mourning and praising the deeds of the deceased. Many of these speeches were recorded, especially those dedicated to important political figures and their relatives. So, one of the most famous oral obituaries is the funeral speech of Julius Caesar in honor of his wife Cornelia.
With the development of journalism and writing, the obituary has lost some of its verbal pathos and has become more informative. In the 16-17th centuries, it became an obligatory attribute that accompanied the death of any more or less famous bourgeois, politician or public figure.figure. Relatives always ordered obituaries for the newspaper, as it was a "rule of good manners." The peak of its popularity is considered to be the 19th century - the rapid development of the printed word and journalism. Writing obituaries has become a profitable business.
Thus, an obituary is a message about the death of a person, including general information about his activities, character, life position, and so on. At the request of the customer, many additional information can be included in it.
Types of obituaries and their purpose
There is no official classification of this concept. After all, an obituary is not a biography, but just an informative article. But conditionally they can be divided into professional and personal, brief and detailed, etc. Depending on this and on the purpose pursued by customers, the text of the obituary may differ in volume and content.
It may include:
- circumstances and causes of death;
- personal and professional achievements;
- list of grieving relatives;
- indicating the place and time of burial;
- an emotional characterization, an assessment of the life of the deceased (it is the assessment that distinguishes an obituary from a regular newspaper news) and so on.
According to its purpose, an obituary is an example of a special genre of journalism, which not only informs readers about an event (in this case, death and funeral). At the same time, it also gives the text a special coloring that the customer wants.
How towrite an obituary: sample
Writing a touching and sincere or concise and strict text is not so difficult. You need to follow certain simple rules.
First of all, it should be remembered that an obituary is not a funeral speech, but only a message that should notify its readers of a tragic event. Of course, it would be useful to mention the worthy qualities of the character of the deceased person, his merits to the family and society, in order to remind everyone what a wonderful person left the world.
So, in addition to the full name and main dates (birth and death), you can carefully mention the cause of death: after a long illness, due to a tragic accident, etc.
Next, it is necessary to mention those for whom this death was a tragedy - relatives and friends. Following the rules of the hierarchy, they first talk about parents, then spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters and brothers. In specialized obituaries compiled in connection with the death of an honored employee of the enterprise, it is not customary to mention the names of colleagues.
You should also list the main achievements of the deceased: professional and personal, services to the family or society, positive qualities, and so on. But in no case should you talk about unfulfilled dreams, criticize your character or actions - about the dead or good, or nothing.
In conclusion, you can write that the memory of this person will forever remain in the hearts of relatives and friends, as well as clarify the place and time of the funeral and commemoration so that everyone can say goodbye.
Exampleobituary writing
November 20, 1897, after a serious illness, his beloved son, husband and father, John Smith, passed away. He lived the life of a worthy family man, a conscientious worker and a respected citizen of his country. John was born on April 15, 1846, from 1865 he began serving as a simple clerk in a very respectable office, and by the age of 45 had already become an assistant manager. At work, he was valued for diligence and justice, and at home - for kindness and care. His memory will forever remain in the hearts of his parents - Glen and Alice, wife Barbara and children Robert and Sabrina.
John Smith's funeral will take place on November 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacramento Central City Cemetery.
Placement of obituaries
Most often, newspaper obituaries are placed on the last page in a black frame, symbolizing mourning. Although now this practice is no longer very popular. In the modern world, specialized companies are engaged in writing to order and placing obituaries in newspapers and on the Internet.
Sometimes this text can be seen on the notice board of the institution where the deceased worked.
Today, it has almost lost its popularity as a way to inform the public about the tragic event and express condolences to the family. Now the obituary is another tribute to the deceased, which many, unfortunately, consider optional.
