Illinois Obituaries (2025)

FAQs

Why would there be no obituary? ›

Obituaries are not required by law , so the deceased's family might have chosen to forego publishing one. Publishing an obituary can be expensive , and the funds may be unavailable. The deceased has few family members or friends , so there might have, unfortunately, been no need for an obituary.

Most obituaries are around 200 words long, which means using as few words as possible to avoid going over the word count. It's a good idea to make a plan before you write to ensure you stick to the most important points about the person who died.

Obituaries and indexes from a few individual newspapers can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog by using a Place Search under: ILLINOIS - OBITUARIES. ILLINOIS, [Name of County] - OBITUARIES. ILLINOIS, [Name of County], [Name of Town] - OBITUARIES.

Obituary Example: No Funeral or Memorial. [Full name] sadly passed away on [date of death] at their home in [place of passing]. They always spread joy and happiness wherever they went. As per [first name]'s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held.

Deciding not to publish an obituary is #perfectlynormal in grief. If publishing an obituary in the paper or online feels (or felt) wrong to you - perhaps drawing unwanted attention or sharing on a level beyond what's comfortable - that's OK. There is no one right way to honor someone you love.

The obituary is typically written by the family (edited, then submitted, by the Funeral Director), so the cause of death is or isn't included by the direction of the family and not the newspaper.

Concluding Message

Phrases like “We will always carry your memory in our hearts,” or perhaps a favorite quote of your loved one are heartfelt and personal.

It's important to remember that an obituary is supposed to be an announcement and brief biography of the deceased. Don't feel the need to recount every detail of their life. Also try to avoid bragging about every accomplishment or award the deceased received.

No, there is no Illinois or federal law requiring the family to run an obituary when a relative dies. It is up to the discretion of the family members.

Obituaries and death notices can be published by alumni organizations, religious or community institutions, and professional organizations, or online.

What is a silent funeral? ›

Silent funeral is sometimes used as another name for an unattended funeral. These types of direct cremations and burials are becoming more popular. If you choose this type of funeral, the person who has died will be cremated or buried without a funeral service.

While there are many benefits to writing an obituary, there are also reasons why a family might not want to. Some may feel that it is too personal or private to share with the public, while others may not have the financial means to pay for its publication.

However, in communities where access to media is limited, or in cases where the deceased or their family prefer privacy, an obituary may not be published. Additionally, socio-economic factors can influence whether an obituary is created, as families with fewer resources might not have the means to publish one.

Everyone has a unique life story. In nearly every case, it's a story that should be told and preserved. We all know the deceased lived, but how that person lived and why that person lived are important.

While there are no rules when it comes to who writes the obituary, they're typically written by family members or close friends. When a loved one passes, the family usually decides who will write it based on their relationship to the deceased or writing ability.

Whilst there is no law that states you have to have a funeral, the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 does states that you must 'dispose of the body of the person who has died by burial, cremation or any other means', although there doesn't have to be a funeral service before this.