THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 Page 11 Sa enir Sa y Senior Senio BY JIM MILLER How to Write a Loved Ones Obituary Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide any tips on how to write an obituary? My dad, who has terminal cancer, has asked me to write his obituary, which will be published in the funeral program and run in our local newspaper. Not a Writer Dear Not, I’m very sorry to hear about your dad’s prognosis. Writing your dad’s obituary would be a nice way for you to honor him and sum up his life, not to mention avoiding any possible mistakes that sometimes occur when obituaries are hurriedly written at the time of death. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and tools to help you write it. Contact the Newspaper Before you start writing your dad’s obituary, your fi rst step is to check with the newspaper you want it to run in. Some newspapers have specifi c style guidelines or restrictions on length, some only accept obituaries directly from funeral homes, and some only publish obituaries written by newspaper staff members. If your newspaper accepts family-written obits, fi nd out if they have a template to guide you, or check with your dad’s chosen funeral provider. Most funeral homes provide forms for basic information and will write the full obituary for you as part of the services they provide. You also need to be aware that most newspapers charge by the word, line or column inch to publish an obituary, so your cost will vary depending on your newspaper’s rate and the length of your obit – most range between 200 and 600 words. Also note that many newspapers off er free public service death listings too, which only include the name of the person who died along with the date and location of death and brief details about the funeral or memorial service. Obituary Contents Depending on how detailed you want to be, the most basic information in an obituary usually would include your dad’s full name (and nickname if relevant), age, date of birth, date of death, where he was living when he died, signifi cant other (alive or dead), and details of the funeral service (public or private). If public, include the date, time, and location of service. Other relevant information you may also want to include: cause of death (optional); place of birth and his parents’ names; his other survivors including his children, other relatives, friends and pets and where they live; family members who preceded his death; high school and colleges he attended and degrees earned; his work history and military service; his hobbies, accomplishments and any awards he received; his church or religious affi liations; any clubs, civic and fraternal organizations he was members of; and any charities he feels strongly about that he would like people to donate to either in addition to or in lieu of fl owers or other gifts. You’ll also need to include a photo of your dad. Need Help? If you need some help writing your dad’s obituary there are free online resources you can turn to like Legacy.com, which provides tips and articles at Legacy.com/advice/ guide-to-writing-an-obituary. Or consider the 25-page e-book “Writing an Obituary in Four Easy Steps” available at DearPersonObits.com for $5. This guide will help you gather the details of your dad’s life so you can write an obituary that will refl ect his personality and story. Online Memorials Many families today also choose to post their loved one’s obituaries online and create digital memorials. Some good sites that offer this are MyKeeper.com, GatheringUs.com and EverLoved. com, which provide a central location where family and friends can visit to share stories, memories and photos to celebrate your dad’s life. Or, if your dad used Facebook, you could also turn his profi le into a memorial (you’ll need to show proof of death) where family and friends can visit and share anytime. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior DESE extends mask requirement in schools D epartment of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey Riley recently notified school districts in the Commonwealth that he will again extend the mask requirement in all K-12 public schools through February 28. The mask requirement remains an important measure to keep students, teachers and staff in school safely. DESE, in consultation with medical experts and state health offi cials, will continue to evaluate public health data. School officials will continue to be able to lift the mask requirement if they can demonstrate that at least 80 percent of all students and staff in a school building are vaccinated. Lifting the mask requirement through DESE’s vaccination threshold policy is a local decision made by school and community leaders in consultation with local health officials. Also exempt from the mask requirement are students and staff who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons and students who cannot wear a mask for behavioral reasons. The following mask requirements will remain in eff ect: • Public school students ages fi ve and older in all grades and staff are required to wear masks indoors in schools, except when eating, drinking or during mask breaks. • All visitors are also expected to wear a mask in school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. • Masks are not required outdoors. It is strongly recommended that students younger than DESE | SEE PAGE 20 Appian Club of Stoneham to offer adult Italian classes vening adult Italian classes will be off ered by the Appian Club of Stoneham starting in the week of January 24. Due to COVID-19 concerns, this class will be presented in Zoom only. A beginners’ class will start with the basics (pronunciations, phrases, etc.) and give you a fi rm foundation for the language. Advanced classes will be conducted as needed, depending on enrollment. The eight-week classes will be held on Tuesday E evenings. The cost is $150 plus a $20 text. The class is casual and interesting, and the experience will be enjoyable. If you are traveling to Italy or just want to relive your heritage roots, this class is for you. Classes will be taught by Tiffany Bistocchi Murphy, a graduate of Dickinson College with a bachelor’s degree in Italian and a Master’s in Italian from Middlebury College. She has traveled extensively throughout Italy and has taken courses there. Contact coordinator John Nocella for further details at 781-438-5687 or, preferably, by email, at john02180@gmail. com. Please pass along to other family members, friends and neighbors. The class is sponsored by the Appian Club of Stoneham, a nonprofit, social charitable 503(c)(7) organization whose mission is to promote Italian culture and heritage.
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