Our Services

Writing an Obituary

What is an Obituary?

More than merely a "good-bye" to the deceased, an obituary is an opportunity to honor and remember the achievements of a lifetime.

As a provider of direct cremation services, and in an attempt to keep our prices as low as possible, PCS is not equipped to write and submit paid obituaries to newspapers. However, we DO send a free notice to the local Charleston Post and Courier for your loved one. If you wish to submit a paid obituary, you should contact the specific publication for its guidelines. The publication may request our phone number to call us for a confirmation of the death.

An obituary's length may be somewhat dictated by the space available in the newspaper it is to appear in. Therefore it's best to check how much room you have before you begin your composition. If possible, the obituary should appear in print a few days prior to the memorial service if it is to serve as an invitation for friends and acquaintances.

For information on submitting a paid obituary to the Charleston Post and Courier please click this link:  Charleston Post and Courier Obituaries

Using our Website

Our $695 Cremation Package includes a "Book of Memories" for your loved one, which is available on this website and does not ever expire.  You may submit the obituary you have written to us via email and we will upload it for others to view. We encourage your family to take full advantage of the Book of Memories and use it as a platform for uploading photos and sharing stories.

Writing the Obituary

What to Include?

If you are submitting to a newspaper, it is vital that you include the deceased's  full name, city and state of residence and date of passing so that there is no confusion over who has died. You may wish to consider placing a photograph (which can appear as black & white or in color depending on the newspaper's layout) with the text. There is usually an extra charge for including a photograph.

The Introduction

An example of a good first sentence would be: “Sally Ann Smith, 82, of Charleston, South Carolina and widow of Dale Smith, passed away Friday, January 30, 2015.”

The Middle - Telling the Story

Concisely write about the significant events in the life of the deceased. This may include the schools he or she attended and degrees they attained, along with his/her vocations or interests. If you wish to include any personal touches, this is the place to do it.

For example: There was nothing Sally loved more than baking pies with her grandchildren.

Survivors

It is common to include a list of those who have survived the deceased.  That is, those that are still living. These may include:

• Parents
• Spouse and Children
• Adopted children
• Half & Step-children
• Siblings
• Half & Step-Siblings
• Grandparents
• Special Friends
• Partner or Significant Other

The surviving relatives listed above may be listed by name. It is perfectly acceptable to not mention other relatives by name, but in terms of their relationship to the deceased.

For example: Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Dale Smith; her son, David Smith and daughter, Wendy Smith; 6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Note: Sometimes people want to make a list of family that have already passed away.  You may have seen the phrases "preceded in death by" or "pre-deceased by". This list can be its own paragraph either before or after the "survivors" paragraph.

Additional information such as where the body will be laid to rest and any pallbearers names or names of honorary pallbearers may be mentioned.

Service Information

List the details of the time and location of any services for the deceased: these may include the funeral, burial, wake and memorial service where appropriate.

Some Do’s & Don'ts

If you don't know where to start, DO read other obituaries for ideas.

DO use such terms as "visitation will be from" or "friends may call from". DON’T use the phrase "lie in state" as that only applies to a head of state, such as a prime minister or president.

Unless you are absolutely opposed to friends and family sending floral arrangements, DON’T use the phrase "in lieu of flowers¦" when memorial donations are to be requested. Instead, start the final paragraph of the obituary with the words "Memorial donations may be made to."

If you send the obituary to newspapers in other cities (e.g. to a town where the deceased may have resided previously), DO consider obtaining copies of the obituary to send to distant relatives and friends.

Final Considerations

Verify information in your obituary with another family member to avoid disagreements about dates and the spelling of names and cities.

Remember that most newspapers charge by the word. Therefore, when placing an obituary, it may not always be feasible to mention everything that we have stated in our guidelines. Use your own discretion and do not put yourself under any financial hardship. Your loved one would understand.