Publicly announcing an individual's death can be accomplished in several different manners. Some people take the private route of sending correspondence, but most choose the simple option of posting notices in newspapers and on websites. In most areas, the papers will run free obituaries.
There is a difference between an obit and a death notice. The first is usually a condensed biography written by a member of the newspaper's staff, stating just the basic details. The second is a more intimate accounting generally penned by someone who knew the deceased on a personal level.
Many newspapers create their obits using a set template. For the most part, they only include factual statements like the deceased's full name, birth and death details, residency, education and employment basics, as well as the family they leave behind. These simplified announcements are commonly offered as a courtesy without charge.
Some smaller papers allow a little more leeway in their submissions. If the family wishes, they can include extra information like the cause of death, organizations and associations to which the deceased may have belonged, accomplishments and service details. Other publications sometimes have this option available for a small fee.
A lot of people choose to include these articles as part of the funeral service programs. This practice provides each person in attendance a copy of the obit for their own purposes. Some use the version printed in the papers, while others opt to write a more personalized one.
Announcements can be submitted to multiple newspapers, specifically those serving the cities where the deceased once resided. With this practice, people who knew them in those areas will be informed and able to send condolences or attend services. Whether to do this or not is left solely up to the immediate family of the one who has passed away.
