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Estate , Pre-Planning , and Sympathy Guide
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Monday , Feb . 27 , 2017

Writing down a life : crafting the obituary

An obituary isn ’ t just notification that an individual has passed away and details of the services that are to take place – it can be far more than that .
A well-crafted obituary can detail the life of the deceased , with style .
Unlike many newspapers these days , Herald Journal , Enterprise Dispatch , and Delano Herald Journal do not charge for printing obituaries .
Within reason , we do not limit the length . Though we can ’ t publish a book about each person , we encourage families to include details about the deceased – his / her personal history , schools attended , what he / she enjoyed , expression of faith , significant events , etc .
In our editing , we do organize the information into a natural flow while striving to include all the necessary elements but allowing for personalization .
Timing
Of course , the newspaper is on a regular weekly cycle , while deaths may occur at any time .
Aside from holidays , the regular newspaper deadline is noon Thursdays , but we do try to accommodate late-arriving obituaries as much as possible .
In many cases , we are able to run a short version as a simple notice , with funeral arrangements if known , followed by the complete obituary the following week .
In many cases , the funeral home will submit the obituary to the newspaper for you .
If you are sending it yourself , you may email it to :
• Herald Journal – hj @ heraldjournal . com
• Dassel-Cokato Enterprise Dispatch – news @ dasselcokato . com
• Delano Herald Journal – delano @ heraldjournal . com
Please make sure to note which newspaper ( s ) you intend it for .
We will print obituaries for any current or former resident who has some connection to a community where readers will be interested in him / her .
Also , photos are welcome . Typically , these are a close-up face shot . You may submit either a recent or historical photo that represents the person well .
What should you include ?
Those doing genealogical research appreciate attention to detail .
Unfortunately in some cases , too much information can cause security concerns . You should be comfortable with the amount of information being shared .
It ’ s also recommended that you verify information with at least one other family member to make sure it is accurate .

MEMORIALS WITH INNOVATION AND DISTINCTION ���������������� ������������������

$ 1,832.00 Plus Tax

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Estate , Pre-Planning , and Sympathy Guide

Here is a general outline or checklist of information to include :
• Full name , age , where resided
• Date and place of death
• Born - date , place , parents
• Baptized - when , where
• Confirmed - when , where
• Grew up where
• Schools
• Married - to who , when , where
• Where lived , worked
• Special interests , accomplishments
• Memberships
• Activities enjoyed
• Survived by - names , relationship , where residing
• Preceded in death by - names , relationship
• Visitation details
• Funeral / memorial service details - when , where , clergy
• Interment
• Funeral home handling arrangements
• Online guestbook
• Memorial notations / requests
If you don ’ t know where to start , read other obituaries to gain an idea of how personal and touching an obituary may be .
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This ESTATE , PRE-PLANNING , & SYMPATHY GUIDE edition is brought to you by the following busnesses :
BRAHAM GILMER
MONUMENT CO ( 320 ) 543-2650 ; 1100 6th St , Howard Lake , MN 55349 ; brahammonument . com
CHILSON FUNERAL
HOME ( 320 ) 485-4447 ; 200 Fairlawn Ave W , Winsted , MN 55395 ; chilsonfuneralhome . com
COKATO CHARITABLE
TRUST ( 320 ) 286-2158 ; 182 Sunset Ave . NW , Cokato , MN 55321 ; cokatoseniorcare . com
CZUCHRY LAW FIRM ( 952 ) 443-4004 ; 1750 Tower Blvd , Victoria , MN 55386 ; meclawfirm . com
DARWIN MONUMENT ( 320 ) 693-5902 ; 960 North 1st Street , Darwin , MN 55324 ; darwinmonument . com
EGGERT LAW OFFICE ( 320 ) 485-3880 ; 182 Main Ave W , Winsted , MN 55395
GERARD E STIFTER LLC ( 320 ) 485-2191 ; 109 2nd St S , Winsted , MN 55395
KRAFT WALSER LAW
OFFICE ( 320 ) 286-2396 ; 217 South Broadway Ave ., Cokato , MN 55321 ; kraftwalser . com
MARESH FUNERAL
HOME ( 320 ) 327-2417 ; 105 Main St W , Silver Lake , MN 55381 ; mareshfuneralhome . com
JOHNSON-MCBRIDE
FUNERAL CHAPEL ( 320 ) 864-3737 ; 1222 Hennepin Ave ., Glencoe , MN 55336 ; hantge . com
NATIONAL CREMATION
SOCIETY ( 763 ) 458-5223 ; 6605 Nicollet Ave S , Richfield , MN , 55423 ; thatsmywish . com
SWANSON-PETERSON
FUNERAL HOME COKATO ( 320 ) 286-2534 ; 655 Broadway Ave . S , PO Box 280 , Cokato , MN 55321 ; swansonpeterson . com HOWARD LAKE ( 320 ) 543-3401 ; 1224 6th St ., PO Box 679 , Howard Lake , MN 55349 ; swansonpeterson . com
VALEN YAGER
MEMORIALS ( 320 ) 485-3701 ; 20404 County Rd 9 , Lester Prairie , MN 55354 ; vymem7014 @ tds . net

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7C

Grief : You are not alone

BY ROBERT HANTGE Funeral director
We are very fortunate in central Minnesota that we have many caring resources available for those seeking support following the death of a loved one . Besides the resources of our local funeral chapels , we have caring local hospice groups that have annual grief support groups , we have a local chapter of Compassionate Friends that specializes in the death of children , we have local health care professionals and our local clergy ; all providing care and compassion to those suffering the loss of a loved one .
Grief can be defined many ways , but basically , it ’ s the emotional reaction to a loss . We suffer many losses throughout our life , but none stronger than the loss of a loved one at death .
Today , psychologists and counselors have taken modern variations of Dr . Elisabeth Kubler Ross ’ s 1970 ’ s “ Five Stages of Grief ,” to many losses within the larger loss of a loved one . It ’ s not just the loss of a husband , it ’ s the loss of someone to take care of the car , the loss of someone who handled specific chores , the loss of companionship , the loss of a co-parent , financial loss , the loss of one ’ s past and future identity , and on and on . I ’ ve always believed each person ’ s grief is unique to themselves and respectively , their needs in grieving are also unique .
Grieving a loss is as important as breathing . People need to grieve , and we need to create an environment that allows healthy grieving . Thankfully , our society has evolved to create a healthier environment . It wasn ’ t that many years ago that the grieving were shunned away , and people weren ’ t given the care they needed . The largest myth is that the grieving should “ get over it ” by now . The truth is , the grieving never “ get over it ” – they learn to live with their loss , and the loss becomes part of their life moving forward .
Seeking assistance in the grieving process has also changed for the better over the years . Seeking assistance 50 years ago was seen as a sign of weakness . Thankfully , again , it is now as noble as seeking assistance for any other health-related issue . We have wonderful counselors and doctors available for those needing professional assistance .
McLeod County also has a local grief support group called Grief Recovery Friends that has been in existence for 25 years . This grief support group was started by several local families suffering a loss and looking for someplace to share their feelings . Since they couldn ’ t find anything , they started their own grief support group . Grief Recovery Friends meets monthly on the second Thursday at 6:30 p . m . at the Ecumen Oaks in Hutchinson . There are no fees , and it is open to anyone suffering the loss of a loved one .
Most importantly , you ’ re not alone . Whether you seek professional assistance from a healthcare provider , hospice support group , or grief support group , there are many resources , available in our communities .
Reprinted from an article in ZEST Magazine , May 2011 .
Robert Hantge is a funeral director at Hantge Funeral Chapels .