Planning

Writing a eulogy for your mother is one of the most emotionally demanding things you may ever do. You're trying to put into words a relationship that is, for most people, the longest and most formative of their lives. You're doing it in public. And y...

Music at a funeral or memorial service does something that words alone can't quite do. It bypasses thought and goes directly to feeling. The right song can make a room full of people who are barely holding it together finally let the tears come. Or i...

There's no official etiquette guide for announcing a death on social media because the practice is genuinely new. Twenty years ago, you called people, sent letters, or relied on word of mouth through a community. Now, a single Facebook post can reach...

An obituary is one of the oldest forms of tribute we have, and it's also one that has changed more dramatically than almost any other funeral tradition in the last decade. Print obituaries in local newspapers still exist, but they're increasingly exp...

Most people never consider writing their own obituary. The task feels morbid, uncomfortable, maybe even a little vain. But here is the truth: no one knows your story better than you do. When you write your own obituary, you take control of the final...

Writing an obituary for a veteran is both a solemn responsibility and a profound honor. Unlike a civilian obituary, a veteran's obituary must capture not only the story of a life lived but also the sacrifice, courage, and commitment that defined thei...