Writing Obituaries

Due:Tuesday, January 27th

15 points – Obituary

25 points – Eulogy

Format options:Realistic

Narrative

Satirical

Etc! – use creative license to create your own interpretation

Requirements: Chose an individual to focus on. If you wish to choose a historical or famous figure then be sure to include a brief works cited for where you acquired your information. If you wish to choose someone from your own life then obviously this step is not required. You may choose someone still alive if you wish and invent a manner of death for them (you could even write your own obituary if you desire); however, the manner of death you choose should be logical (for example: no one who live on the modern planet should die of alien invasion). That being said, you may choose a character from a beloved work, and just be true to the constraints of that world. Some clever satirical obituaries have also been written for objects or events. While you are free to consider this option just run these ideas by me before beginning.

Realistic obituary, from The Philadelphia Inquirer – Sunday, February 8th

BERTRAM THOMAS, III, suddenly on February 5, 2004, of Blackwood. Age 32. Loving husband of five months of Denise. Devoted son of Verna and the late Bertram. Dear brother of Andrea Lomas and her husband Joseph and Jamie Manos and her husband Robert, all of Sicklerville. Trooper Zimmerman was a 1990 graduate of Highland High School and also graduated from Gloucester County College. He was also a 1995 graduate of Rutgers Camden and a member of the Alumni Association. He played baseball for his high school and colleges and with the Tri-County Petes. Trooper Zimmerman was also a Special Police Officer for Gloucester Township and then an officer for the Evesham Township Police Department. He has been a NJ State Trooper for three years, the last year being selected to the Tactical Patrol Unit. There will be a viewing from 3 to 6 pm Monday afternoon, 7 to 9 pm Monday evening and 9 to 11 am Tuesday morning at St. Agnes RC Church. Funeral Mass at 11am Tuesday in church. Interment St. Joseph’s cemetery, Chews Landing. Family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in Trooper Zimmerman’s memory to Habitat for Humanity. Expressions of sympathy my be emailed to: condolences @ gardnerfuneralhome.com.

Narrative obituary, from Time – February 9th

You won’t hear much talk on the network talk shows these days-not much real conversation to broaden the mind or upset the rigid format. In TV’s robust youth it was different, in large part because of Jack Paar, who died last week in Greenwich, CT at age 85.

Though his tenure as host of The Tonight Show lasted only five years, from 1957 to ’62, the former disc jockey and B-movie actor made late night TV both a habit and an event. He was a hot wire in a cool medium. Many a coffee-break chat would begin with “Did you see what Paar did last night?” He visited Cuba to talk to Castro, and Berlin when the wall went up; he drew fresh notions from politicians and film idols when such figures were not ubiquitous TV presences. More often, Paar made news by being himself-a softy quick to anger, quick to cry-and by keeping his audience guessing what mood Jack would be in tonight. One night, annoyed by the NBS censor’s cutting of a mildly ribald anecdote, he walked off the show. And a month later, he walked back.

After quitting the show for good in 1962, he was host of a weekly hour in prime time that had some inspired guest pairings (Cassius Clay and Liberace) and was the first US network program to feature a Beatles performance. But in May 1965, at age 47, he said a last NBC farewell, picking up his trademark stool and walking into the mists of legend. Jack Paar a legend? We kid you not. He was so good that few talk shows since have been up to Paar.

–Richard Corliss

Satirical obituary

Died. Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57, co-creator of The Real World, which helped launch the current generation of couch potato twenty-somethings. If it were not for Mary’s tireless efforts and constant urging for new programming at MTV, there would be no Road Rules or The Simple Life. Her devotion to quality programming has led to television addiction and the resulting obesity in much of America’s children. As for the slightly older generation, it now has a skewed understanding of which parts of life should be kept private and which ones belong on TV. Thankfully, Mary’s professional contributions have also blurred the understanding that betrayal, lust, and all types of cheating are not healthy parts of relationships with partners and friends. Kudos to you, Mary-Ellis, for your generous contribution to pop culture and mainstream reality television.

Writing Eulogies

A eulogy is a speech given at a memorial service in memory of the deceased. You don't have to be a great writer or orator to deliver a heartfelt and meaningful eulogy that captures the essence of the deceased. The best eulogies are brief while being specific, as well as thoughtful and not without the occasional touch of humor.

Where obituaries are short written works typically of a journalistic style, eulogies cover a much broader spectrum. Like odes they typically praise and immortalize the subject of their choice and then can be prose or poetry. However, unlike odes eulogies are nearly always delivered to an audience at the memorial service of the individual discussed. Thus, there are a few things to keep in mind when writing a eulogy.

Tone: How serious or lighthearted do you want the eulogy to be? A good eulogy need not be uniformly somber, just appropriate. Some eulogy-writers take a serious approach, others are bold enough to add humor. Used cautiously, humor can help convey the personality of the deceased and illustrate some of his or her endearing qualities.
Consider the audience. Write the eulogy with the deceased's family and loved ones in mind. Dwell on the positive, but be honest. If the person was difficult or inordinately negative, avoid talking about that or allude to it gently, as in "He had his demons, which were a constant battle." Make sure you don't say anything that would offend, shock, or confuse the audience. For example, don't make any jokes or comments about the deceased that would be a mystery to the majority of the crowd.
Briefly introduce yourself. Even if most people in the audience know you, just state your name and give a few words that describe your relationship to the deceased. If it's a really small crowd, you can start with, "For anybody who doesn't know me..." or something that shows that while most people do know you, it's still important to introduce yourself. If you're related to the deceased, describe how; if not, say a few words about how and when you met.
State the basic information about the deceased. Though your eulogy doesn't have to read like an obituary or give all of the basic information about the life of the deceased, you should touch on a few key points, such as what his family life was like, what his career achievements were, and what hobbies and interests mattered the most to him. You can find a way of mentioning this information while praising or remembering the deceased.
Use specific examples to describe the deceased. Avoid reciting a list of qualities that the person possesses. Instead, mention a quality and then illustrate it with a story. It is the stories that bring the person--and that quality--to life. Talk to as many people as you can to get their impressions, memories, and thoughts about the deceased, and then write down as many memories of your own as you can. Look for a common theme that unites your ideas, and try to illustrate this theme through specific examples. If the deceased is remembered for being kind, talk about the time he helped a homeless man get back on his feet. If the deceased is known for being a prankster, mention his famous April Fool's prank. Pretend that a stranger is listening to your eulogy. Would he get a good sense of the person you're describing without ever meeting him just from your words?
Be concise and well-organized. Outline the eulogy before you start writing. Brainstorm all the possible areas (personality traits, interests, biographical info) to talk about and write them down. When you're ready to write, cover each area in a logical order. Give the eulogy a beginning, middle, and end. Avoid rambling or, conversely, speaking down to people. You may have a sterling vocabulary, but dumb it down for the masses just this once.The average eulogy is about 3-5 minutes long(double spaced 2- 5 pages). That should be enough for you to give a meaningful speech about the deceased. Remember that less is more; you don't want to try the patience of the audience during such a sad occasion.

Remember, the most important thing is for your eulogy to feel genuine and evoke emotion in your audience.