Harrower's Check List
- Name: Use full names, including middle name or initial. Nicknames, if commonly used, can be added in quotes. Please double-check all spellings.
- Identification: Find a phrase for your lead that best summarizes who this person was or what he/she did: John Jones, a prominent local dentist or Jane Jones, author of 29 crimes novels. Later in the story, you can elaborate on the details.
- Age: State it simply unless the family asks you to omit it: Jones, 57, died Monday. He was 57.
- Day/place of death: Give the day of the week. Omit the time unless it's relevant for some dramatic reason. If the death occurred out of town, name the city; otherwise, give the local location (hospital, at home, etc.).
- Cause of death: Some publications omit this out of respect for the family's privacy; some omit it only in certain cases such as suicide or AIDS. Most avoid grisly details, summarizing by simply saying 'he died of lung cancer.'
- Birth date/birthplace.
- Background: Education, military service, honors, career achievements - the amount of personal history you include will vary. The more prominent the person, the more in-depth the obit usually is, incorporating anecdotes and quotes from friends, family and colleagues.
- Survivors: name those in immediate family: spouse, children, parents, siblings.
- Funeral/burial information: Include the name and phone number for the funeral home, so readers can call for details.
- Full name
- Identifying phrase best summarizing who this person is and what they did
- Day/Place of death
- Cause of death
- Age, stated simply
Birthday if you have it/Birthplace
Background (Remember to Attribute.) - Education
- Military Service
- Honors
- Careers
- Achievements
- Family
Visitation-Funeral Service-Burial Information (put in chronological order)
Sources
- Mortuary
- Relatives, friends.
- Newspaper clippings.
- References (Who's who)
- Police, coroner
- Hospital
- Attending physician