Utica Observer-Dispatch Memorials and Obituaries | We Remember (2024)

FAQs

Do some people not do obituaries? ›

Privacy Concerns. Sharing an obituary is more than telling people your loved one has passed on. You're sharing their life story, dreams and accomplishments. Sometimes, the family may not want to share this information with strangers who read the newspaper or online articles, and they will choose not to post an obituary ...

It is preferable, when applicable, to include the age at death and a personal comment such as “surrounded by family” or “comforted by his wife.” NB: Sometimes it is desirable to omit the cause of death – such as when death came as a result of extreme violence, or the carrying out of a court sentence.

People read obituaries for a variety of reasons, including staying informed. If a visible community member or acquaintance passes, we have an innate desire to know about it. Most of us know someone who has proclaimed and one time or another that “I read them to make sure my name isn't listed.”

You are under no legal obligation to take out a death notice or obituary. Think of the latter as a final gift to your loved one—a celebration of who they were and the legacy they created. The former is more of a courtesy to give people information so they too can honor and memorialize the dearly departed.

How do you refer to an unmarried partner in an obituary? Typically, an unmarried partner is referred to as a spouse or simply as a partner. You can also list them as a surviving relative if you feel it's appropriate. The goal is to list them in a way that best reflects the relationship they had with the deceased.

The order should go as followed: spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, and siblings. It should be noted that nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws are typically unmentioned unless they were especially close to the deceased.

If you like to be technical, names should be listed as follows: first name, spouse's first name in parenthesis, then surname (ex: Tom (Sarah) Johnson). If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

Why does it cost so much to post an obituary? Publishing an obituary in the newspaper is expensive because of the limited space papers have. Newspapers value every inch of each page, so they must charge to use that limited space for an obituary.

This reading may be performed by a family member, a close friend, or a designated individual.

Why do obituaries lie? ›

Obituary writers sometimes deliberately distort the truth in their stories. False obituaries are written for many reasons: concealing a divorce, excluding children from another marriage, exaggerating a deceased's accomplishments, or excluding certain relatives.

However, in communities where access to media is limited, or in cases where the deceased or their family prefer privacy, an obituary may not be published. Additionally, socio-economic factors can influence whether an obituary is created, as families with fewer resources might not have the means to publish one.

Sometimes family members or friends might not feel comfortable writing the obituary. In this case, most funeral homes can assist with obituary writing. Because these individuals don't know the deceased, they'll either interview family members or do their own research to create a picture of the person who passed.

Paying tribute to the person who has died.

In addition to the basic facts—age, date of birth, date of death, survivors, predecessors—an obituary can include a person's hobbies, favorite foods, sports teams, work history and any other accomplishments that made the deceased stand out.

But, again, obituaries aren't legally required. So, a researcher may only be able to uncover a death certificate (if the person died more than fifty years ago), a headstone, or nothing. For low-cost direct cremation services in Florida, contact Smart Cremation.