Obituary notices can be personal and often remain part of a special family record. The template below is a suggestion on how to compose an obituary notice.  We wish to let families know that we will assist in composing the notice, in whole or in part, for no cost.   We can also simply proofread it before adding it to our website and submitting it to newspapers on their behalf.

1.  Announcement:
The formal notification of the death which often includes the following:  Full name, the desired phrase (passed away, passed away peacefully, died, etc), date and place of death. The cause of death is not usually stated but may be if so desired. The date and place of birth are usually listed next.

Robinson, Jane (nee Matthews) died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on December 3, 2015 in Victoria, BC. She was born on March 28, 1930 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

2.  Survivor Information:
Listing the spouse, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, other close relatives, close friends and even pets. Predeceased relatives are usually noted before the survivors.  Some people choose to include the name of each grandchild, others will state “six grandchildren, four great grandchildren, etc”.

Jane was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, William, in 2012.  She is survived by her children, Patricia (Frank) Thompson, Matthew (Sally), and Peter;  grandchildren, James, Michael, and Robin (Stephen) McIlroy; great grandchildren, Molly, Spencer, and Michaela, and her cat Maddy. She will be missed by many other relatives and friends.

3.  Biographical Information:
Information about the person’s life, which my include: education, work, honours, hobbies, club affiliations, sports teams, volunteer work, etc.

Jane and Bill were married in Victoria in 1955.  When their children became of school age, Jane returned to nursing at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.  She was a lifelong, active member of her church and after retirement enjoyed spending the winter months in Maui with Bill. Her greatest pleasure was received when spending time with her family.

4.  Scheduled Ceremonies:
Time and location of ceremonies and events, examples include: Funeral Service, Celebration of Life, Memorial Service, Mass of Christian Burial, Visitation, Prayer Service, Graveside Service, Memorial Reception, Cocktail Reception, etc.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, on Friday, August 8, 2016 at 2:00 pm, with the Reverend Michael Thomson officiating. 

5.  Contributions and Thank You’s
This often includes thank you messages to care givers, doctors, and friends.  For those who wish not to receive flowers, the “In Lieu of” line is added.  View list of local charities here.

The family wish to thank the doctors and nurses who cared for Jane over the last several years, especially Dr. Burns.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Agency, 2410 Lee Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8R 6V5.

6.  Condolences:
Add this phrase at the end of the obituary to let readers know that condolences and memories can be shared on the McCall Gardens website.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.McCallGardens.com.

View a printer-friendly version of this guide here.

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McCall’s Website:
www.McCallGardens.com

There is no fee to have an obituary and photo on our website. Obituaries on our website allow family and friends to read the obituary prior to it being printed in a newspaper and provides a way for people to share memories and offer condolences.  Use the current obituaries on our site as an additional resource for structure & choice of words.

Victoria Times-Colonist Costs:
These rates have been supplied to us by the Times-Colonist.
The prices do not include taxes and are subject to change without notice.

Text Only
1 day – $60.39 for the first 3 lines, $5.13 each additional line
2 days – $60.39 for the first 3 lines, $4.77 each additional line
3 days – $60.39 for the first 3 lines, $3.95 each additional line

Photos
Black & White- $97.47/day
Double Photos (stacked)- $194.94/day
Colour Photos Single/Double- $172.47/$329.94 per day. Colour not available on Fridays

Submitting the Obituary:
To submit an obituary please email it along with a photo to McCall Gardens at info@mccallgardens.com.   We will proofread it before adding it to our website and forwarding it to the Victoria Times Colonist and/or other papers in which you would like it published.  You may also submit the obituary and photo via our website here.

Obituary Template Worksheet:
You may also download our printable Obituary Template Worksheet. This document is only a guide and may be edited and customized as you wish.
View the printer-friendly version of this template here.  For your convenience, we have included a Microsoft Word version: Obituary-Template.doc

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