Obituary Writing Service
While many people want to be involved in writing their own or a loved one’s obituary, they may not have all the tools or skills necessary to complete the job to the high standard they desire. Let our professional writers work with you to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating process during a time of grief.
While many people want to be involved in writing their own or a loved one’s obituary, they may not have all the tools or skills necessary to complete the job to the high standard they desire. Let our professional writers work with you to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating process during a time of grief.
Patient, Caring Professional Writers
Based in Los Angeles, Holly Van Leuven is an author of nonfiction, a researcher, and a publisher. Holly graduated Co-Valedictorian of her class at Emerson College, where she earned her BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has worked for several nonfiction publishers including Perseus Books Group, Birch Books, the MIT Press, and Harvard Education Press.
In March 2019 Oxford University Press published her biography, Ray Bolger: More than a Scarecrow. Holly conducted seven years of original research to tell the lost story of the twentieth-century entertainer, best remembered for playing the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. For her work on Ray Bolger, Holly earned the inaugural Biographers International Organization’s Hazel Rowley Prize for first-time authors. She is also an active nonfiction book reviewer for Publishers Weekly.
Having worked as a published author and a publisher, Holly has a keen awareness of what is entailed to produce quality works of nonfiction for both trade and scholarly publishers, and how to promote them. She greatly enjoys the rapport of working with extraordinary people to help tell their stories.
Jessie Chaffee is the author of the novel Florence in Ecstasy (Unnamed Press, 2017), which explores the contemporary issue of women’s identities as informed by the writing, lives, and legacies of the Italian mystical saints. She was awarded a 2014–2015 Fulbright Grant to Italy to complete the novel, during which time she was writer-in-residence at Florence University of the Arts. Jessie received her BA in the writing seminars at Johns Hopkins University and her MFA in fiction at The City College of New York. Her fiction and nonfiction has been published in The Rumpus, Bluestem, Global City Review, Big Bridge, and The Sigh Press, among others. (Photo credit: Heather Waraksa)
Jessie is currently an editor at Words Without Borders, an online magazine of international literature in translation. Previously she taught at The City College of New York and The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine, and she served as managing editor of several literary journals. She lives in New York City.
Obituary Packages FAQs
How much does your average obituary cost?
Our packages start from $249.99 for a standard 300-500 word obituary.
Here’s what families are saying about our writing services…
Gillian Wilson
My family was impressed with how thoughtful and sensitive Keeper handled the process of helping us to write our father’s obituary. They found the story of his life — though we thought we already knew it! Now, we have a keepsake to treasure forever.
Gillian Wilson
Keeper was the perfect fit for my book project. By providing a range of services from insightful editing and story progression to industry knowledge, Keeper was always there with the support I needed.
Gillian Wilson
I asked Keeper’s team to write a small history of family-held property in Virginia which we developed into a true, cohesive community of people who shared our values and vision. The resulting monograph was exactly what I had hoped it would be. Kate did a perfect job of capturing the motives and feelings that are wound up in the planning and development of our treasured property.
Gillian Wilson
By looking back with Keeper, we have been able to make sense of our past. The process of writing my life story, so ably aided and guided by Keeper’s team of writers, has given me the ability to move forward in exciting ways I never thought possible.
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Protected: Standard Obituary $249.99
The standard obituary is a complete and dignified, professionally-written obituary between 300-500 words. It is best for families wanting a brief, classic obituary with the basic facts of the loved one’s life.
While many people want to be involved in writing their own or a loved one’s obituary, they may not have all the tools or skills necessary to complete the job to the high standard they desire. Let our professional writers work with you to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating process during a time of grief.
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Protected: Premium Obituary $624.99
While many people want to be involved in writing their own or a loved one’s obituary, they may not have all the tools or skills necessary to complete the job to the high standard they desire. Let our professional writers work with you to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating process during a time of grief.
The premium obituary is a comprehensive service that includes:
- Up to 2 hours of phone or virtual interviews with a family member or a group of family members (up to 4) who want to provide details to be included in the obituary.
- A transcript of the interview.
- A 1,000-word obituary, professionally written and proofed for grammar, basic fact checking (spelling, etc.).
- One additional round of edits if requested by the family after seeing the draft.
- Quick turnaround time (1-3 days, depending on family need and request)
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Protected: Custom Obituary
While many people want to be involved in writing their own or a loved one’s obituary, they may not have all the tools or skills necessary to complete the job to the high standard they desire. Let our professional writers work with you to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating process during a time of grief.
The custom obituary is a premium service that includes:
- Up to five hours of interviews, over the phone or virtually, with one-to-five persons present on each call.
- Transcripts of the interviews.
- A 3500-word memorial profile that is professionally edited, proof-read, and fact-checked.
- An additional round of edits once the loved ones have received the draft.
- Flexible turnaround: we will meet your timing needs (rush fees may apply.)
- Files delivered in Word Doc or PDF.
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Protected: Custom Commemorative Keepsake
While many people want to be involved in writing their own or a loved one’s obituary, they may not have all the tools or skills necessary to complete the job to the high standard they desire. Let our professional writers work with you to simplify what can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating process during a time of grief.
Particularly during periods of social gathering restrictions, when funerals are often held remotely or not at all, there can be a special place for a commemorative item. Prayer cards, programs, etc., are very common in our cultures already, but something more substantive, with more biographical information, would give all generations access to their loved one’s story and provide educational opportunities for younger family members. This unique commemorative item could be in the form of a book that focuses on the narrative of the loved one’s life.
This package is unique to your loved one. Here is a rough outline of what the package may include:
- Flexible number of hours for interviews of family members, friends and colleagues.
- Transcripts of the interviews.
- Text drafts to be submitted to you for review and fact-checking.
- Photographs and other art to be supplied by you and your family for use in the final product.
- A unique commemorative keepsake. ex. professional production of a physical booklet of 8-32 pages.
