A celebration of life ceremony is a growing trend in the funeral industry. Many people seem to be wanting more than the traditional funeral that focuses mostly on mourning and silence and are instead opting for a more joyous and personal type of service. With this growing trend, we should only expect obituaries to follow the same trend, and they have with the surge in people choosing to write feature obituaries instead of a more traditional type of obituary. While a traditional obituary focuses on facts about the deceased and is fairly straightforward, a feature obituary is a little bit more personal and intimate.
A feature obituary will take into account the hobbies and loves of the person’s life. Whatever a person holds close to their heart, whatever mattered to them or is important to them can be used in a feature obituary. This type of obituary will require the writer to do a number of interviews with family and friends, and it may take some time to find the things that are the perfect fit to write about in a feature obituary. Unfortunately, this will take some research and some time. And, there may be sometimes when there may be a rush and there is not enough time to properly write a feature obituary. However, if you do have the time, it can be worth it to your loved one to have one done. The end result can capture the very essence of your loved one and will speak of their heart. It will make others feel as if they were closer to them and even knew them better than they thought. Here are just a few examples of what a feature obituary may say.
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She was always a giving person. Everyone loved her, especially her grandchildren. She would always make them homemade cookies and treats and shower them with love and kisses. She never met a child she did not want to take care of, and she always had a house full of children learning from her.
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He was a thoughtful man. There were many moments when he would sit outside on his porch to just relax and think. He would take in everything, and he could tell you the best stories that would take you on a trip throughout his life. Through all of the ups and downs, he stayed the same grateful person he always was and never let anything wear him down. He will be missed by all.
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She liked to talk, maybe a little too much at times, but she never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was friendly with everybody, and her ability to talk positively about things was one of the many reasons people seemed to gravitate toward her. She was truly one of those people that never met a stranger, and because of this amazing trait, she will be missed by many.
As stated before, a feature obituary is more personal and can tell the story of the life of the deceased. Some people may not have the time or the patience to deal with talking to a writer about their loved one, especially so close to losing them. If you feel uncomfortable or are too pressed for time a traditional obituary is a perfect option for you. It will simply focus on the facts of your loved, such as their name, occupation, and surviving family members. These details may be easily found with little need for any interviews from the writer. It is up to you to decide which version your loved one would have preferred and which one you are comfortable with doing. Remember the best fit for someone else may not be the best fit for you.