Frequently Asked Questions

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Maybe you’re too heartbroken to write, or overwhelmed with the many pressing responsibilities when you or your family loses someone. Maybe you’re not comfortable writing, or maybe you just want help doing justice to the life and legacy of your loved one. An obituary is something most people don’t have much experience writing, but it’s also incredibly important. A professional author or obituary writer can help you capture the memories you want to preserve and share.  

No! In fact, I encourage you do try it yourself. Writing an obituary for someone you love is hard, but it can also be deeply fulfilling. It is a final gift you can give them, and to yourself as well.

I love unearthing stories and conjuring scenes that will make the departed live on in people’s memories. Instead of a dry list of dates, locations, and events, I try to revive images of the person as they were in the best parts of their lives. A good obituary should ring true and leave a reader feeling like they knew them, whether they were close family or only distantly familiar. Every life is a story, and every person deserves to be remembered as the star of that history. 

I’ll start by asking you complete a basic questionnaire about your loved one. We’ll also schedule a time to talk, when I can follow-up on that content and you can share more thoughts and memories about your loved one and how you’d like them to be remembered. As a professional biographer I also do some research to make sure that names and dates are correct, and to capture the details that paint their life. 

My fee is $395, which can be paid in two parts, by either Venmo or Zelle. When you send the initial payment of $195, I’ll forward the questionnaire. After I receive your completed questionnaire and the remaining $200 payment, we’ll schedule the phone conversation about your loved one. The obituary will be complete one week after our phone call. 

Possibly. Writing an obituary is a delicate process, and every life story deserves to be treated with utmost care. However, I understand some faiths and families may need an expedited timeline. Please let me know if you would like to discuss different options.

The obituaries I write are usually 1000-1500 words, which I find is just the right space to give an engrossing sense of a life. Many digital platforms (like Dignity.com or community sites) have flexible guidelines, but keep in mind that some print publications (such as print newspapers) may charge by length. If you have a specific word limit in mind please let me know in advance. The obituary I write is yours to publish wherever you wish. (Be sure to keep in mind that some platforms may have a fee for publication, which will add to your overall cost.) 

For reasons of privacy and out of respect for the families, I cannot share original obituaries. However, if you would like to see some sample writing, I can forward some pieces in which personal details have been modified to protect privacy. 

Yes! That’s what news outlets do for famous people—and shouldn’t everyone be treated with the same respect? Commissioning an obituary before someone passes gives them and their family every opportunity to perfect this lasting document. 

Yes! I do this because I truly believe in the meaningfulness of a lovingly crafted obituary. If you’d like my professional advice on a draft you’ve developed, I charge $150 for a 60-minute call and editorial comments on that draft.