You do not have to fit a whole life
into the first sentence.

The form asks for names, dates and service details. You want the notice to sound like a person, and you still have to get the facts right.

Work from a checked fact sheet to a usable notice. Four working sheets cover facts, names and privacy, the draft itself and the final proof. An annotated fictional notice shows how one ordinary detail can make the person visible without turning the page into a biography.

• Build the factual opening before polishing the wording.
• Choose names, omissions and one personal detail.
• Distinguish public service information from private arrangements.
• Prepare the final proof for the actual publishing destination.

Begin with the facts you can verify and the requirements of the place publishing the notice. Leave uncertain fields open until they are checked.

A writing guide for adult readers, with fictional examples. It does not provide grief therapy, funeral planning or legal advice, and cannot resolve family disagreements.