Remember your loved ones with a professionally-written obituary

Commemorate the lives of those you’ve lost with a keepsake memorial story you can cherish for generations.

Our memorial stories

  • Dianne Bellush (1944-2023)

    Every Christmas, every Thanksgiving, and most summers, Dianne Bellush’s house would be full of visitors. For nearly a half-century, she was the heart of family gatherings. Her home was the perennial venue, and she would always open her doors to visiting relatives. Read more.

  • John Corbat (1962-2019)

    Each season, when planting and harvest were completed, back on his Bass Road farm, John Corbat would blow off thick field dust and dirt that coated his massive equipment. Then, he’d carefully wash and wax each surface by hand. Read more.

  • Doris Gleason (1924-2016)

    Doris was born in Dallas on Feb. 15, 1924, at her family’s home on Richard Avenue. She was the youngest of three girls, and even at an early age, her sense of humor shone. When sister Frances began dating a young man who would become her husband, Doris took her father’s cigar to open the door and greet the suitor. Read more.

Our services

  • Obituary writing

    Remember your loved one with a personalized memorial story that reflects their life. I’ll interview family and friends who knew the deceased best, and work with you to make sure every detail is right. Perfect for memorial websites and funeral programs.

    $300 for a 500-800 word memorial story

  • Obituary editing

    Let me help make sure that your obituary draft is just right. I’ll edit for basic spelling, grammar and punctuation as well as offer suggestions to turn an average memorial story into one your family will cherish.

    $50 per hour

  • Living obituary

    Obituary writing is a critical part of any end-of-life plan. A living or “pre-death” obituary allows me to interview you about your life and what you’d like to be remembered for. Plus, your family will receive complimentary editing for any necessary updates when the time comes.

    $250 for a 500-800 word memorial story

  • Eulogy consultation

    Finding the right words to remember your loved one is a daunting task, and a deeply personal one. I can help you craft the right words and give you advice on how to deliver the perfect memorial speech.

    $50 per hour

  • Pet obituary

    Remember your fluffy loved one with a memorial story that you can keep and share. Our pets are often members of the family, and a personalized obituary is a great keepsake to remember them.

    $150 for a 300-500 word memorial story

  • Other memorial services

    Looking for something that’s not listed here? Let me know what your needs are, and we’ll work together to find the best solution for you and your family.

FAQs

  • There are many reasons to hire a professional obituary writer. With so many logistics to consider after a loved one’s death, hiring an obituary writer helps take one thing off your plate. It also allows you to remember your loved one with a personalized story you can keep and share for years to come.

    Unlike other services that create form-written obituaries, I want you to be able to reflect on this story and remember your loved one with joy. As a professional writer, I take extra care to be sure each memorial story is an accurate reflection of your loved one’s life.

  • Absolutely. My first step is to talk to you about what your needs are for the obituary to make sure it works best for your family’s plans. Often, print newspapers are constrained by space and require very short, simple obituaries. I can always provide a version edited for print publication as well as a more personal memorial story for a funeral home website or funeral service program.

  • I can guarantee a complete obituary within 1-2 business days, and often much quicker depending on availability. Some of this time depends on how quickly I’m able to get in touch with family or friends who wish to contribute to the memorial story. Your memories are critical to my writing, so the sooner I can talk with folks who knew the deceased, the more quickly I can write.

    If you have a tight deadline and need expedited services, I charge a rush fee of 10%. Email me at hello@charliescudder.com as soon as you’re able to let me know you need a priority obituary.

  • Of course. If you already have a draft of an obituary ready, I can edit it with you to make sure it’s just right. We’ll go over spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as structure and content to be sure it’s the best reflection of your loved one’s life as possible. Reach out at hello@charliescudder.com with any questions.

  • A living or “pre-death” obituary is a critical piece of any end-of-life plan. They’re also much more fun to write, because I get to talk to you about your life and what you’d like to be remembered for. The process is similar to a traditional obituary, and your family will have a guarantee for complimentary edits to the draft if updates are needed when the time comes.

  • Yes. Our pets often become beloved family members, and deserve to be remembered like our human loved ones. I treat pet obituaries with the same care that I do every memorial story I write.

  • Eulogies are incredibly personal reflections and memorials of your loved one. I know the task of writing one can be daunting, but I believe it’s important that those words be written by the speaker in your own personal voice. I offer consulting services for eulogies and will gladly help edit a draft of a eulogy, but my goal is to help you write it rather than take over such a personal task.