What is proper punctuation for listing survivors in obituary?

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1023915

2026-02-22 05:30

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The format for survivors who are living occur in this order:

  1. parents
  2. siblings if unmarried or a child arranged by gender, then birth order
  3. spouse
  4. children usually in birth order.
  5. grandchildren
  6. siblings if deceased person is an adult - arranged by gender, then birth order
  7. nieces and nephews, often in order by family but arranged by gender (all nieces, then all nephews)
  8. great nieces and nephews (if obit is short)
  9. close friend(s)

If any relative is deceased, they are placed in the same order as above, but lower in the obit.


(1 to 5 are primary survivors)


Each name of primary survivors is followed by city, state. After the State is a semi-colon. The list goes on in one long sentence or two sentences.


Example for Anthony John Williams obit;

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Daniel (Kay) Williams; sisters, Maryanne Williams, Coal Pointe, WVA; Judy Beth Williams, Some City, NV; Mrs. Charles W. (Betsy) Williams, Oakstub, NM; brothers, John J. Williams, Coal Plan, WVA; James C. Williams, Coal Pitt, WVA; and Patrick C, Williams, Oakstub, NM; his wife of 35 years, Myra (Conkle) Williams, and children, Mary Williams, John Williams, and Joyce Williams, all at home. A best friend, Esra John Happenstance of Butter, WVA, was like a brother.


Deceased are his father, John J. Williams, Sr.; the deceased's twin brother, George A. Williams; and one son who died in infancy, Michael A. Williams.

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