[Blade]

I don't know about other areas, but around here most obits are a service the funeral homes offer. It's a regiment of questions they ask and fill in the blanks. Was this person a veteran, would you like to use the phrase formerly of....city, was this person a member of any social group, volunteer of some kind, preceded in death by, just a whole bunch of questions like that. Typically the family handles funeral plans I guess this is why obits sound as they do most of the time. However anyone can post an in memory tribute, at the time of death or at any time.

I really like your idea Kobi of preparing your own obit, but again if the funeral home doesn't have your "words" in hand when the obit is prepared, it will just read as the regiment of questions they ask of everyone. The only way I know of to ensure that what you have prepared as your obit, to be published, would be to have your funeral plans made and paid for before you die and for them to have a copy of your special prepared words attached to your file.

I know several older folks who have paid for their funerals in advance but I don't know any who have written their own obit, but I gotta say I love the idea.