To allow for appropriate planning, the more advance notice you can give the attendees, the better. Funerals are usually planned for three to five days following the date of death. To prepare an obituary allowing two days notice for attendees, the ad will often need to be delivered to the newspaper a full day before publication. This can mean that an obituary needs to be prepared and hand delivered to a newspaper within a day following the date of death. Accuracy and completeness cannot be over-emphasized.
Family members are often so overcome with grief, it is difficult or impossible to remember details.
Misspelling the name of a loved one or excluding the name of a family member can lead to family rifts that are difficult to repair. Have as many family members as possible review the obituary draft for accuracy and completeness. If need be, telephone at least one other relative and read the obituary over the phone, requesting the accurate spelling of all names. After all your hard work, do not just drop off the copy at the newspaper. Ask if it will be possible to proofread the copy prior to publication.