A Christmas Carol Stave Four

1. A Christmas CarolStave Four Gravestones, Epitaphs, and Obituaries

2. “Stave 4” STOP AND THINK: How would you want to be remembered someday? Mrs. Lingo’s sample: Someday I would want to be remembered as someone who always put others first. I want to be remembered as a passionate person who loves to teach and be a mom. I want to be remembered as funny, silly, singing, kind, caring woman, and a good wife, mother, sister, daughter, cousin, friend, colleague, etc.

3. Gravestones and Epitaphs

4. What is an Epitaph? • Epitaph: A phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died; an inscription on a tombstone.

5. They can even be funny:

6. Obituaries (Informational Writing) • An obituary is the notice of the death of a person, and it normally includes a brief biography of the person. • Every day, news sites feature these notices; obituaries are examples of Informational Writing.

7. Obituaries Include: • Historical Information: The introduction which includes (1) the name of the person, (2) his/her most notable achievement, (3) date and cause of death. • Significant Events & Attributes: The body of the obituary contains an elaboration of a person’s achievement, and a little bit of information about the person’s personal life.

8. Information that is typically included in an obituary: • Name: Use full name, middle initial and nickname if it was commonly used. . . .Identification: . . . Usually, people are identified by occupation or community service. . . .Age & Date of Birth: In some cases, a family will request that you withhold the age. . . .Date and Place of Death: Use the day of the week if the death occurred that week, the date if it was more than a week prior to the obituary. . . .Cause of Death: This fact is not required at all newspapers. . . . Address: Tell where the person lived when he died and previous areas of residence for any major length of time. . . .Background: Specify major accomplishments, organizations, educational background, military background and any other highlights. . . .Survivors: Use the names of immediate family members (husband or wife, with her maiden name, children, brothers and sisters). . . . Services: Specify the time, date and location.Burial: Name the place, and provide memorial information when available."(Carole Rich, Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method, 6th ed. Wadsworth, 2010)

9. Sample Obituary #1: • Dorothy J. Hulse 1929 – 2012. Dorothy J. "Dottie" (McHugh) Hulse, 83, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, June 7, 2012. Born in Westfield, she grew up on Calvin Street in West Springfield and enjoyed walking to the Majestic with her friend Ima for a movie and a Milky Way. Dottie and her husband Robert were were married Nov. 22, 1952, and moved to Agawam in 1955. • Dottie was the alto soloist at Westfield Congregational Church for many years, sang for over thirty years with the Springfield Symphony Chorus and sang in the choir at Agawam Congregational Church, where she was a member. She was a supporter of the Ronnie Drumm Youth Band and enjoyed attending her daughter Donna's many different band concerts with her mother. • Dottie was a happy, colorful woman who was always zipping around town in her notorious red and white VW Beetle with music streaming out the windows. She hated cooking but loved eating and made the best fudge ever. Her house was the hangout for the neighborhood kids where she was famous for serving macaroni with ketchup for lunch. Dottie was everybody's friend and loved music, parades, Shirley Temple, animals, whistling for the backyard birds, hot fudge sundaes and her annual shopping trip to Provincetown with her daughters. • She leaves her husband of fifty-nine years, Robert N. Hulse, two daughters, Donna J. Kennedy of Agawam, Diane M. Harper and her husband Harold of West Springfield, and three grandchildren, Emily Jo Hartmann, Haley N. Harper and Gregory Harper. Many thanks to Dottie's loving caregivers at Country Estates. • The funeral will be Monday at 10am at the Agawam Funeral Home, 184 Main Street followed by burial in Agawam Center Cemetery. Calling hours are Sunday from 2-6pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dakin Humane Society, Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101

10. Sample Obituary #2 Mary Jane Smith, 88, of Miami, died Wednesday. She was born to the late Donald and Rita Green, Nov. 11, 1919, in Savannah, Ga. Mary graduated from Memorial High School in 1938 and received a BA in English from the University of Georgia in 1942. She married the late John Smith in 1943, and they lived together in Athens, Ga., before relocating to Miami in 1960. Mary was a high school English teacher until she retired in 1984 and was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students. She founded the Miami Reads program for underprivileged children in 1968 and was honored with the Dade County Teacher of the Year award in 1966 and 1970.Mary was an active member of First Baptist Miami Church, Miami Rotary Club and the Dade County Book Club. She loved to travel, and took 20 cruise trips with her husband in her lifetime.Mary is survived by four children: Jane Doe and Samantha Andrews, of Ft. Lauderdale; Jennifer Brown, of New York City; and Mike Smith, of Miami. She also is survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to Miami Reads. A viewing will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Green Family Funeral Home. Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Oakland Cemetery.