What is an obituary?
An obituary is a memorial to someone that has passed away and usually includes their name, an account of their life, achievements and information about their family.
Where do you find obituaries?
Traditionally obituaries are commonly found in local newspapers. However, many are now put online as we have seen an increase in obituaries being posted on social media and dedicated websites have been created for people to upload information and pictures.
What are funeral notices/death notices?
Once a death has been formally registered a funeral notice (also commonly known as a death announcement or death notice) Will be made to announce it publicly. Funeral notices Will usually include information such as:
- Full name of the person that has died
- Age
- Place of passing
- Names of the surviving family members
- Date, time and location of the funeral
- Name of charity for donations (usually requested instead of flowers)
Where can you find the latest funeral notices/death notices?
Similarly to obituaries, funeral/death notices can be posted in newspapers and online. Posting in newspapers can be costly as charges can be dependent on the number of words or the day of the week the notice is posted. Publishing a funeral/death notice online is usually free and it also means that you are able to easily share the details with loved ones and friends over email or social media. They are also a great way for you to add links to make donations to the chosen charity directly.
How long after death is a funeral in the UK?
Funerals are usually held about 2 weeks after someone has passed away, but this can vary due to factors such as:
- Religious beliefs
- Availability of the funeral director and place where the funeral is to be held
- If there needs to be an inquisition into the death
- The time it takes to plan the funeral
In the event that the deceased has left funeral instructions as part of their Will and has a pre-paid funeral plan in place, then arrangements can be made a lot quicker. If no funds have been left for the funeral as part of the deceased's estate or they don't have a pre-paid funeral plan in place, then the cost can be left to family members to cover.
How do I find out the date of someone's funeral?
The quickest and easiest way to find out the details of someone's funeral is to ask the direct family members or check their obituary or funeral/death notice. If you are unable to find out the date using either of these options, you can also try searching websites such as funeral-notices.co.uk that list upcoming funerals. Some funeral directors Will also provide a list on their websites that you can check.
You might also like to read: How to tell companies and organisations when someone dies by using death notification services
