Guides

Plain, practical writing for a hard few weeks.

When someone you love dies, you are suddenly in charge of a list no one taught you how to write. These guides break the work into small, specific steps — in the order you’ll actually face them.

The first hours and days · 10 min read

What to do when someone dies — a calm, step-by-step guide

A practical guide to the first hours, days, and weeks after a death — what to do, in what order, and what can wait. Written for the person who is suddenly in charge.

Writing the words · 9 min read

How to write an obituary — structure, tone, and what to include

A practical guide to writing an obituary that sounds like the person it's about. Structure, common sections, what newspapers require, and the parts most families forget.

The full checklist · 12 min read

Funeral planning checklist — every decision, in the order you'll face it

A complete funeral planning checklist. Decisions to make, vendors to contact, paperwork to file, and the small details that make a service feel like them.