The obituary writer must ensure that all names are written accurately and that they are included in the final published narrative. (Shutterstock) Deciding who to include in a deceased person's life biography can be a difficult decision. If your ancestor had a reputation for being difficult, maybe you should leave them out. It is acceptable to omit names if they do not affect the story being told or if it is not possible to identify them. For example, if the deceased was famous under another name then it would be inappropriate to print their birth name in an obituary. However, if their family wants this information made available then it should be given with as much detail as possible. It is also acceptable to use initials instead of last names for people whose families did not use surnames. For example, A.B. could be abbreviated to Anjou Barry or Aubrey Balfour. Finally, if a relative's identity is not known but they have a strong suspicion about what it might be then it is acceptable to include them in the obituary under the pseudonym "John Doe". After an obit has been published, it is often reprinted in local newspapers. As such, it is important to make sure that the names are spelled correctly on the reprint so that they are found by relatives searching for them online.