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Obituary & Newspaper Notices

After the loss of a loved one, family members are often overwhelmed by all the decisions that must be made in the midst of their grief. One of the details that must be taken care of is the writing of the obituary. If you have recently lost a loved one and don’t know where to start with the obituary, you may find the following tips useful. This information will walk you step-by-step through the process of writing a great obituary.

Some families prefer to write their own obituary/notice, sometimes the funeral director will write the obituary and other times it will be a collaborative effort. The stories can be long or short, detailed or general, include family and relatives and attempt to summarize a life’s story. Most will include a photo although sometimes it is a current photo and sometimes it is a photo of the person when they were younger. There are many opinions, options and traditions regarding obituaries, and it may vary depending on where you grew up and your family preferences. At Spring Grove Funeral Homes, we offer to place your loved one’s obituary with a photo on our website at no charge. We will share the link to our site with you in email so you can share it with your friends and family or post on social media. Family and friends may leave messages of support, sympathy and comfort by signing the electronic guest book. If you select our complimentary memorial tribute video, it will be posted with the obituary for everyone to view.

Newspaper notices, requirements and prices vary from newspaper to newspaper and can vary significantly from city to city or between states. Most newspapers charge by the line and handle the formatting. Including a photo is often an additional cost. On average, you will see obituaries in Cincinnati start around $500 for basic information. Your funeral director will assist you in placing the obituary, confirming the price and publication date(s). Be aware there are cut off times for publication so it is important to proof and approve your notice well before the deadline so your funeral director can submit it on time.

If you want to write the obituary of your loved one, here are some tips:

Start off the obituary by announcing the death of the loved one. Provide the name and a very brief description, the age of the deceased, and the day of passing. You can probably squeeze all this information into one sentence. For example:

On Monday, September 4, 2017, John Doe, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 74. Include some biographical information such as birth date, upbringing, education, marriage information, accomplishments, and work history. Be compact and precise with your wording. Try to get as much meaning into as few words as possible.

John was born on July 31, 1943 in Houston, TX to Bob and Jane (Smith) Doe. He received his law degree from the University of Texas in Austin in 1971, and he practiced business law for 31 years in Houston. On May 28, 1975, he married Grace Ann Lewis. They raised two sons, Nick and Joel, and two daughters, Alice and Lisa.

To write a great obituary, it’s important to capture the spirit of the loved one who has passed. Compose a paragraph that describes not only what your loved one did, but also what your loved one was like. For example, focus on hobbies, passions, and personal characteristics. Remember, newspapers will charge you by line, word, or inch (depending on the publication), so don’t write more than you can afford. A short, factual obituary might be all you need. But if you want to write a special, personalized obituary, include details like this:

John had a passion for painting. He also loved to bird watch, and he combined his two favorite hobbies to create extraordinary art. His paintings of various birds were much admired not only by friends and family, but also by all who frequented the coffee shops where his paintings were displayed. He was also an avid music lover and a collector of Beatles memorabilia. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

While you don’t have to mention every nephew and cousin by name, it’s important to write a general overview of the family members who passed away before the loved one as well as the surviving family. Close family members can be listed by name, and other relatives can be referred to more generally.

John was preceded in death by his father, Bob, and his mother, Jane. He is survived by his wife Grace, his four children, Nick, Joel, Alice, and Lisa, his brother Paul, and several cousins, nieces, and a nephew.

Provide the date, time, and location of the funeral, visitation, mass, graveside, reception or celebration of life. Also include information regarding donations, flowers, or condolences.

The family will receive friends at a public visitation from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Wednesday, September 6, 2025 at Spring Grove Funeral Homes main location, 4389 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 7th, 2017 at the Church of Christ on 123 Main Street. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery followed by a reception at the Spring Grove Event Center. Memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.

Put it all together, and you’ve got a complete obituary.

Sample Obituary

On Monday, September 4, 2025, John Doe, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at age 74.

John was born on July 31, 1943 in Houston, TX to Bob and Jane (Smith) Doe. He received his law degree from the University of Texas in Austin in 1971, and practiced business law for 31 years in Houston. On May 28, 1975, he married Grace Lewis Doe. They raised two sons, Nick and Joel, and two daughters, Alice and Lisa. John had a passion for painting. He also loved to bird watch, and he combined his two favorite hobbies to create extraordinary art. His paintings of various birds were much admired not only by friends and family, but also where his paintings were displayed. He was also an avid music lover and a collector of Beatles memorabilia. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

John was preceded in death by his father, Bob, and his mother, Jane. He is survived by his wife Grace, his four children, Nick, Joel, Alice, and Lisa, his brother Paul, and several cousins, nieces, and a nephew. The family will receive friends at a public visitation from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Wednesday, September 6, 2025 at Spring Grove Funeral Homes main location, 4389 Spring Grove Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 7th, 2017 at the Church of Christ on 123 Main Street. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery followed by a reception at the Spring Grove Event Center. Memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.


Review for mistakes Check, check, and check again. Once you are satisfied with the finished product, pass it off to a friend or a dispassionate third party for review. Since obituaries are composed during a time of grief, it’s not always easy to keep a clear mind when writing one. It’s always good to get multiple perspectives. When you are sure that the obituary is as good as it can be, send it off for publication

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