is biography written after death

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How to Outline a Biography

Last Updated: July 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 51,525 times.

Writing a biography can seem daunting, as you are trying to explore the entirety of someone's life on the page. The key to writing a good biography is outlining it before you dive in. A strong, detailed outline will work through key events chronologically. To outline a biography, start by discussing early life and childhood. Then, go into adulthood and current life, or later life and death if the person is no longer alive.

Discussing Early Life and Childhood

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul Andre Charles, born November 17, 1960 in San Diego, California.”

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul's mother, Ernestine Charles, was from Louisiana. RuPaul's father was Irving Charles. They divorced in 1967.”

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul grew up in San Diego, California and moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his sister when he was 15.”

• For example, you may write, “At 15 years old, RuPaul attended a performing arts school in Atlanta. After he graduated, he focused on his budding stage career, opting not to attend college.”

• For example, you may write about the person's experience with abuse at the hands of a parent. Or you may mention that the person struggled with a learning disability in middle school that would go undiagnosed until later in their life.

Outlining Adulthood

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham went to Brown University from 1967-1981, majoring in dance. She worked under famous dancers and choreographers in the performance industry at Brown. She graduated with honors.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham met choreographer Dash Nam in a dance class at Brown. They became romantic and professional partners, collaborating on a number of early performances. Nam would later play a major role in Graham's performing company in New York City.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham worked as a bartender while at Brown to support herself. She then created performances for a small stipend until she was able to open her own performing company in 1987 with the help of Dash Nam.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham was rejected from several major dance companies and was unemployed for several years. In frustration, Graham decided to open her own dance company and studio, using funds from friends and colleagues. It later became the premier dance company in America.”

Detailing Current Life and Impact

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul currently resides on a ranch in Wyoming with his partner of twenty years, Australian painter George LeBar. He continues to produce several successful television shows and is a continued advocate for the LGBTQ community.”

• For example, you may write, “In her later life, Graham fell into a depression and battled alcohol addiction. She died in 1991 at the age of 96 from pneumonia. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico.”

• You can also include your own opinions about the person's overall life. You may include a short section on the impact the person had, or continues to have, on you.
• For example, you may write about how the person influenced a generation of artists or how the person impacted the way we view technology in the 21st century.

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• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://www.apsu.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/Biography-Outline.pdf
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/

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Funeral Biography

People always wonder what’s so good about goodbyes. There really is no acceptable answer for that. Saying our emotional farewells and letting go of the people we love is always tough. Goodbyes could mean we never get to be with our loved ones ever again. It also means we never get a second chance to say things we couldn’t vocalize. Hating the idea of never seeing someone ever again rides along with the fear of forgetting those that matter to us. That’s why, as we send them off to their final resting place, we must remember them, how they lived, and keep them in our hearts forever.

A biography is a written record of the life story and details of a person, whether alive or deceased. In a biography, the writer is either a family member, friend, or anyone who knows the person very well. This is different from an autobiography where a person writes about his own life story and experiences. So with this definition, a funeral biography is a record of the life of someone who has passed away. This is read or presented during the person’s funeral as a way of remembering him before the final goodbyes are said. This is also kept as memorabilia long after the deceased has been laid to rest.

Who was he?

Funeral biographies can come in two forms: obituaries and eulogies. Although both detail a person’s life, their weight differs greatly. Obituaries are written newspaper reports about a person’s passing. This shortly discusses the life of a person, how they died, and the location of his memorial. They serve as an announcement to reach all those who knew the departed. They aren’t always as personal as eulogies, but they still get the job done. Eulogies, on the other hand, are more extended, more personal, and written by someone who was close to the one pushing daisies. This is tearfully read in front of the person’s family and friends during the memorial service. 

15+ Best Biography Examples

Shared below are steps on how to write a funeral biography. Tips that you need to remember in writing biographies are also included.

1. Basic Biography Outline Template

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Size: A4 & US Letter Sizes

2. Biography Report Template

3. Biography Worksheet Template

• Editable PDF

4. Free Basic Biography Outline Template

Size: A4 & US Sizes

5. Free Personal Biography Outline Template

6. Free Sample Biography Outline Template

7. Professional Biography Outline Template

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Size: 45 KB

8. Artist Biography Outline Template

Size: 40 KB

9. Character Biography Outline Template

Size: 33 KB

10. Short Biography Outline Template

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11. Biography Essay Outline Format Template

Size: 44 KB

12. Biography Outline Worksheet Template

Size: 38 KB

13. Biography Report Outline Template

Size: 46 KB

14. Biography Outline Template For Elementary Students

15. Biography Book Report Outline Template

Size: 32 KB

16. Albert Einstein Biography

Remembering   You

Funeral biographies help readers and listeners remember the life of someone who has met the maker. This is a way for everyone, even for just a moment, to relive what it was like when the deceased was still around. This can be written in pamphlets or funeral service programs . But a string of recollected memories doth not a funeral biography makes. When writing a biography, you shouldn’t be too technical; you should bend your rules a little.

Written below are tips and tricks you can use when you need to write about a person who died.

1. Begin with the Basics

If you’re writing for an obituary, you shouldn’t forget about the basics. The birth date, residence, cause of death, and the deceased’s history are all vital parts in any obituary. These answer the questions the bereaved might feel too heavy to acknowledge. Since obituaries are usually written for newspapers, you should also include the location of the memorial service and burial date. This is to make sure all friends and family can come and commemorate the person’s life. God forbid they get haunted for not saying the final goodbyes.

2. A Little of You and Me

Writing eulogies requires a certain vulnerability, but you don’t have to be a professional content writer to makes something genuine. This is the part where you really recall the good times. You can detail what kind of person the deceased was, how he lived his life, and how much he mattered to people. This is where storytelling comes into play. By writing something heartfelt and relatable, you can make the whole church cry. You can use anecdotes, inside jokes, and even quote lines the guy famously said. It’s all about describing the person in a way that everyone can remember him by.

3. Light in the Darkness

As mentioned before, funerals and goodbyes are hard. They take an emotional toll on those who were close to the departed. Losing someone special always brings a negative feeling. So to combat that, you have to remember and recognize the good things. You could recall all the people whose lives were changed because of the deceased. You can write how he would finally be at peace. You can even mention all his awards, honors, and all his achievement certificates . This way, the coming of the angel of death would be easier to accept.

4. Art and Emotion

Funeral speeches can make anyone emotional. Why don’t you use these emotions to make something creative? Art created from the heart holds so much more than just physical value. Like how Walt Whitman wrote, “O Captain! My Captain” for Abe Lincoln, or how lead singer from FM Static wrote the song “Tonight” for his girlfriend, use your emotions to make something beautiful for your dearly beloved. This way, your creation would mean so much more than just an arrangement of words for the one who passed away. 

5. Words Only for You

Your funeral eulogy should also contain a special message for the departed. You can use cliched stuff like “you’re forever in our hearts” and whatever. Or you could be more in-depth. You can express how much the deceased impacted the people around him and how he changed the world in his little way. This part is where you can go all out. Pour your heart out on this one and let the departed know how you feel. You never know, there might be someone in the crowd who share your sentiments.

6. Picture Perfect Memories

A picture paints a thousand words. The encapsulated moments we never want to forget. That’s why you should include it in your biography and obituary cards . Seeing pictures of the lost one gives people a chance to see him in his happier days. They get to bring back the memories they shared with the departed. Everyone gets the opportunity to see his smile one last time before his burial. It could be a collection of photos from his childhood to his final moments, or photos of him with the people he loves most. 

Losing loved ones and coping with grief takes a lot of getting used to. But that doesn’t mean you also get used to not remembering them. That’s what writing obituaries are for; to remember our dearly departed. Besides, you don’t have to reread their biographies; you’ll always have them in your heart.

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How to Write a Biography of a Deceased Person

Rebecca cioffi, 29 sep 2017.

Everyone dies. It’s a simple fact of life. And when they do, many times an obituary is needed, which is just another word for biography. If you are writing one for a local newspaper or something that requires brevity, use three paragraphs. For anything else, like a eulogy or even a school paper on a dead relative, you can make it as long as you like. Just remember you are writing about someone's life and give your biography the respect that this person deserves.

Explore this article

• Begin with the background
• Include personality traits
• Was sad but so many rich things
• Fact check your article

1 Begin with the background

Begin with the background. Described who the person was as evidenced by whom he left behind, including spouses and children. You can also include details like where he worked and what he did. Include that he was a wonderful teacher or everyone loved his Santa at Christmas; it doesn't have to be a full life story, just some interesting tidbits and highlights. It doesn't have to be the Nobel Prize to be included, unless he did win the Nobel Prize.

2 Include personality traits

Include personality traits and unusual or funny characteristics. If he was extremely philanthropic or donated to one cause, mention that. Give a sense of the man here -- a sense of his personality, what he found funny or cared deeply about and why people liked him.

3 Was sad but so many rich things

End with the idea that his passing was sad but so many rich things came from his life. You can then end with some accomplishments of the deceased’s family. Remember that research is important here. Make some phone calls to his family and friends and interview them. Just a few comments from relatives can really add to the biography.

4 Fact check your article

Fact check your article thoroughly as you don't want to get any facts wrong including dates of birth and death, a list of survivors and funeral dates and times. If you are including sensitive information such as cause of death, check with the family first before publishing.

About the Author

Rebecca Cioffi worked in the entertainment industry for almost 20 years and is currently living in Phoenix, Ariz., where she is working on a book. She is also a phlebotomist.

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What is a Personal Narrative?

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Lesson of The Day

Writing a Short Biography With Obituaries

In this lesson, we invite students to learn about obituary writing in The New York Times, and then write about someone who led an interesting life, using the format of an obituary.

By Erica Ackerberg

Lesson Overview

Featured Section: Obituaries

When the reporter Margalit Fox retired, she reflected on her career as an obituary writer at The New York Times: “Writing daily obits only reinforced what I had long suspected: It is the best beat in journalism. The reason is simple: In following their subjects from cradle to grave, obits are the most narrative genre in any daily paper. For a writer, there is little better than being paid to tell stories.”

Since 1851, hundreds of thousands of obituaries have appeared in The Times. In the most basic sense, an obituary is an announcement of someone’s death. But each one is also a life story: It highlights the impact a person had on the world and what made him or her special. Those you’ll see in the pages of The Times are usually of famous people, such as Hank Aaron or Betty White , but you’ll also find obituaries of lesser known, but otherwise newsworthy, people, like Betty King, who worked backstage at Carnegie Hall, and André Cassagnes , the inventor of the Etch A Sketch.

In this lesson, you will read some of the obituaries published in The New York Times to find out what they’re like, what kinds of information they typically include and how they are written. Then, you’ll research and write an obituary for someone who led an interesting life.

Curriculum Connections

Teachers, writing an obituary can help your students practice essential research, writing and storytelling skills. You can have them write obituaries for people they knew, notable figures or anyone else whose life story is worth knowing. Here are a few ideas for different subject areas:

An English teacher might have students write an obituary for a character from a shared class text to better understand who that person was, what was important to him or her and what effect he or she had on others in the book. Students could also write obituaries for authors or other important people from your curriculum.

A social studies teacher could do the same with a historical figure. A math or science teacher might pick an influential person from a field of study students are learning about.

Health or advisory teachers could use this lesson to talk about ways to remember and memorialize those who have died. They might engage students in discussion on how different cultures honor the dead.

Watch this trailer for a documentary about the Obituaries desk of The New York Times, and think about the following questions:

What does it mean that obituaries are a way “to make the dead live again”?

Does writing or reading about someone who has died feel depressing to you, or even creepy? Or, as with these obituary writers, do you find it intriguing?

Is there anyone whose life story you would like to tell? What made that person’s life special or meaningful?

Pick one of these obituaries to read. Or search through the Obituaries section to find one that interests you.

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the obituary you chose, and then answer the following questions:

1. What, if anything, did you know about this person before you read his or her obituary?

2. List some basic facts about the person: Where and when was he or she born? Who was in his or her family? What did this person accomplish in life? When and how did he or she die?

3. Why do you think The New York Times wrote an obituary about this person? What made this person newsworthy? How was his or her life special?

4. Was there anything about the person’s life that surprised you? What detail did you find most interesting? Why?

5. What, if anything, do you find inspirational about the person’s story?

6. Now, read the obituary as a writer. What do you admire about the way this piece was written? What is your favorite line, and why?

Going Further

Now, it’s your turn: Write an obituary for someone — perhaps someone you knew personally, a historical figure you are learning about in school, a character from a novel you are reading or anyone else whose life story you’d like to tell.

1. First, you’ll need to do research. You might read newspaper articles or biographies, watch or listen to interviews featuring your subject, or talk with the person’s family members or friends.

(If you’re speaking with someone whose loved one has recently died, remember to approach the conversation with compassion. When Neil Vigdor, a Times reporter, calls someone who has lost a family member or a friend, he starts by saying, “I’m deeply sorry to be reaching out under these circumstances.” Then he asks to hear more about the person who died.)

2. Next, you’ll need to identify the most basic facts of the person’s life and death. Here is part of a tip sheet from The Times’s Obituaries desk on the essential information every obituary should include:

Date of death Place of death Age at death Cause of death Full birth name, and place and date of birth Education Military service Marriages, to whom and when; and divorces, if there are any. Names of parents, siblings, spouse or companion and children. Numbers of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The more biographical background the obituary can give, the better. For example, how did they start their careers? Details like education and military service should be given when relevant or interesting. If possible, give the names and occupations of the subject’s parents, as well as his or her place and date of birth.

But you don’t want your obituary to just be a list of dry facts. Add what journalists call “color.” What made this person’s life interesting? In “ How to Write an Obituary, ” Malia Wollan interviews Victoria Chang, a poet who wrote obituary poems after her mother died, and gives examples of these kinds of details:

“Everyone is special and quirky, and I think the best obituaries capture the essence of those qualities about each of us,” Chang says. What things did she collect? What did she love to eat? What brought her joy?

3. Finally, it’s time to write. The format of an obituary is often uniform. Ms. Wollan describes it this way:

An obituary tends to have three distinct parts: the beginning (name, age, date of death, cause of death [if possible to include], work, education); the middle (anecdotes that celebrate the person’s life); and the end (so-and-so is survived by, which Chang calls “a very efficient way of saying who’s grieving.”)

Also, consider the tone you want your obituary to have. Ms. Wollan continues:

An obituary is for the living, but you should consider the sensibilities of the deceased. How would the person want to be remembered? “Imagine what they would write about themselves,” Chang says. It’s OK to be funny. “There’s a lot of humor and oddity, strange tensions and funny stuff about people and the things they do together,” Chang says.

And if you want to get creative, instead of writing a traditional obituary, make a slide show of the person’s life with photos and text , put together a mixed media collage or write an obituary poem, as Ms. Chang did for her mother. Share what you make with your class.

If you want to learn more about obituaries in The New York Times, the documentary “ Obit ” is available on Amazon Prime. You can also listen to this interview on NPR with two obituary writers from The New York Times.

Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here .

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Writing After Death

What would you want your kids to know about your life, before it's too late.

Posted January 25, 2013

A lot of writers get published posthumously. Very few write books after they actually die. But Memories After My Death succeeds where others fail. The book begins like this: “I am writing this book after my death. Most people write nothing after they die, but I am not most people.”

He was right. Is right? Was right? Joseph Tommy Lapid the “writer” of this book was a very interesting man. He was named Joseph after his grandfather and Tommy after a Hungarian prince. He was an orphan who went to Israel at 17 after smuggling horsemeat into the ghetto and entertaining SS soldiers. He ran what was at the time the only TV station in Israel and went on to run his own political party. His life was so interesting and he talked of it in such detail that his son, Yair, felt he could write a book in his father’s voice recording his father’s life. And it works.

Yair Lapid has been in the news quite a bit these past few days. His political party in this past week’s Israeli elections had a sudden, meteoric rise. Lapid, a journalist who has written over a dozen bestselling books in Israel, ran on a simple platform of social equality. He wants to bring the price down on housing, education and cottage cheese (no joke). His father loved to eat, and after becoming financially well-established, claims to have stained his necktie in Europe’s finest restaurants. But his son is trying in some way to equalize the extremes his father experienced in his lifetime in a society of haves and have-nots.

In the introduction, “Tommy” writes that he would never have written the book had his own funeral not been so impressive. “It was, without a doubt, a stunning success,” he writes, watching the prime minister cry over his grave. Lapid's wife whispered to a friend how embarrassed she was that she did not know, until he died, how important her husband really was. But Tommy acknowledged that he had no idea himself until people mourned for him. He had tried on numerous occasions to write an autobiography but was not able to identify what was important. Whatever he was doing seemed the most important thing at the time.

Tommy Lapid is a lucky man. Instead of writing his autobiography, his son wrote it for him. Most of us are not so lucky. And while it may be difficult to sort out the wheat from the chafe of a lifetime, we may owe it to a generation that follows to give them a taste of our own life experience and lessons learned before we go. Wisdom comes in interesting packages, unexpected twists, unanticipated joys and painful memories. Some of us may be able to write it all down and share it after we die but don’t count on it. Better to take your pen out now.

Dr. Erica Brown is a writer and educator in the DC area, where she lives with her husband, four children and two dogs. Her forthcoming book is Happier Endings: Overcoming the Fear of Death.

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Letters to Loved Ones After Death: 10 Things You Need to Say

Have you ever received an “end of life letter?” Unfortunately, not everyone gets the opportunity to receive a last letter from a loved one. Have you ever thought about writing one and how it would impact someone after you are gone?

Should you write a final letter when you’re healthy and vibrant? Or should you wait until you are sick and dying? Should you write it down, record your voice, or leave a video behind?

Fortunately, if you are reading this, you probably have time to put together some final words for your loved ones. Here’s why, how, and some ideas on what to say.

Leaving Letters After Death

There are many reasons why you may want to write a letter to your loved ones.

You aren’t the communicative type. It’s easier to write your thoughts than to speak them out loud. Sometimes you can say things in writing that you might not say in person. Or perhaps there are things you’ve long meant to say, but for whatever reason have been unable to do so.

You want to keep your memory “alive.” For example, if you have young children, this is a way to interact with them when they are older long after you’re gone.

You want to give comfort to the ones you are leaving behind. By writing a final letter, or by making a video or audio recording, the thoughtfulness alone with offer great comfort to your family and loved ones. There is much you can say to provide comfort ; the best is simply to say that you love them and are proud of them.

You want to make your last wishes and personal instructions known. This can be anything from practical guidance (questions about life support, funeral arrangements, burial vs cremation) to instructions for the future (educational plans and goals for cultivating virtue in your children, your legacy, a desire for your spouse to find happiness and remarry if desired) to whatever else you may want to include in your final wishes .

Ultimately, writing letters to your loved ones in the event of your death does two things: It gives you peace of mind, and it provides comfort and direction to those you care about most.

What to Include in “Open When I Die” Letters

Death is always a surprise, even if you are expecting it. You never think, “today is the day.” It might be tomorrow or next week, but never today. And of course, tomorrow is always tomorrow and next week is always a week away.

So with that being said, why put off writing that “goodbye” letter? Please do it now, while you have the chance.

Things to consider including:

• Healthcare decisions and end-of-life instructions.
• What your life has been like to date: stories, hopes and dreams for the future, thoughts on the meaning of life.
• A list of accounts, logins, and passwords.
• Your family history and the legacy you would like your family to carry on.
• Assure your loved ones that your love for them will never cease to exist. You are gone from their sight, but your love is not.
• Give some life advice. For example: “Live your lives with strength and love,” “speak my name often,” or even “I am sorry I had to go.”
• Make sure you provide for your pets.
• It’s ok to feel anger at me. After all, I left you.
• Let your children know that you are proud of them, and you know they’ll accomplish great things.
• Recognize your loved one’s qualities, such as kindness, loyalty, and humor.
• Write about a specific time or incident that comes to mind.
• Encouragement to be grateful for every day they may have left on this earth.
• List your hopes and dreams for your loved ones.

How to Write a Goodbye Letter When Dying

How do you know what to say in a goodbye letter? Be personal and specific when you share your feelings; however, try to keep it simple.

Goodbye Letter Tips

• Be honest about your illness, diagnosis, and prognosis.
• Keep your letter to a single page in length. You can go longer, but brief is good. It will help you focus on what is important.
• Handwritten is nice but not always legible.
• Typing a goodbye letter is ideal, you can sign it and add a personal note such as “I love you.”
• If you don’t feel like writing or typing a letter, make a voice recording.
• If you don’t want to make a voice recording, you can make a video.

Goodbye Letter Template

Dear [name or endearment], The doctor’s diagnosis is clear, and my time here is short. There are some things I want you to know. First of all, I love you and I am so proud of you. I love you for all the ways you….. [etc] I am proud of you for….. [etc] Now let me get practical for a moment and talk about my final days, funeral arrangements, and financial/household matters….. [etc] For the kids, as we’ve talked about so much, we want them to….. [discuss education, instilling virtue, faith, and practical considerations]. I will write a letter to each of them, but please be sure to tell [list names] for me that I love them and miss them and I am so proud of them. Some things are easily forgotten, so I wanted to write down our family’s story. [Talk about your family history and heritage, childhood, early years of marriage and stories from the children’s younger years] Dearest, you mean the world to me. I admire your…. [list character qualities]. I want you to be happy. Mourn me, and miss me, but know that it’s ok to move on even as you honor me in your memories. [Discuss relationships/remarriage/it’s ok to let go] Most important of all, and it can’t be said enough to mean all that I feel – I love you. Always yours, [Signature]

Things to Know if You are Making a Video

• Wear clothing that reflects who you are.
• Choose a setting with good lighting and minimal ambient noise.
• Don’t wear stripes – it could make your video appear blurred.
• Feel free to be somber, creative, or lighthearted.
• Write out a script, or at least some notes beforehand. This way you will be sure to say everything you wish to say.

This is your video; there is no right or wrong way to do it. Just be yourself.

10 Things to Say to Your Family Before You Die

1. “i’m proud of you for….”.

• Who you are, no matter what you do.
• The brilliant things you will accomplish in the future.
• I am proud that I could call you “friend.” (Or son, daughter, wife, husband, etc)
• The way you love others and always put their needs before your own.

2. “Thank you for….”

• Giving my life purpose and joy.
• For being my spouse, friend, mentor, or any other relationship you are thankful for.
• Our children.
• The way you were always there for me

3. “Please forgive me for….”

• Things I have said or done that have hurt you.
• Things I have not said or not done that hurt you or hindered you.
• Because I didn’t let you know how much I appreciated you. (This can pertain to a spouse, children, friends, or co-workers.)
• My past failures, such as…

4. “Congratulations on….”

• Their life’s achievements. First steps, riding a bicycle, straight A’s, and so on.
• Either big or small events, congratulations are always in order!
• Overcoming challenges – including the amazing life you’re living without a (father, mother) around.
• If you have young children, you can offer future congratulations on their first job, first kiss, graduation, marriage, children, and more.

5. “I am sorry for….”

• Leaving this world without you.
• Leaving you to raise our children alone.
• All of our future plans that are not going to happen.
• The emotional toil this has put you through.

6. “I trust you with….”

• Raising our children.
• Making good financial decisions.
• Doing your best in life.
• Living responsibly, while also following your dreams.

7. “Goodbye to….”

• List the people you want to be included in your final goodbye. Family, friends, or co-workers.
• Your fur babies.
• Your “favorite” places. For example, the beach, your favorite restaurant, or your favorite park.
• “… but only for a little while, for I know we will meet again in heaven.”

8. “Remember to….”

• Celebrate the life we shared and all the good times we had together.
• There is no set timeline for grieving. Take your time.
• Focus on the good things and look to the future even as you mourn my death.
• It’s ok (or it’s not ok) to date. But, again, this is something you may want to discuss with your spouse in person.

9. “What I appreciate most about you is….”

• Your thoughtfulness and integrity.
• You had loved me when I was unlovable.
• How you take care of our children. You put our kids ahead of yourself and everyone else.
• Your passion for life.

10. “I love you.”

• Every moment, including all the times I didn’t say it or act that way.
• I love you for the way you made me laugh, for the adventures we had, for the memories we share, for just being there. 
• My love for you will never fade.
• I will always love you.

Whether you call them end-of-life letters, goodbye letters, or final letters, whether you make an audio or video recording, it will provide so much comfort to your loved ones.

A final, personal touch like this will mean the world to those left behind. It will be something they will cherish forever.

Your last letter is about the people that are left behind; therefore, it is a last act of love to them. Remember, life goes on for them without you.

So create a special message that they can read after your death. It is a beautiful way to keep you alive in their minds and hearts while providing comfort, reassuring instructions, and expressions of your love.

Karen Roldan has been in the funeral industry since 2006, and a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2008. She is currently licensed in the states of Indiana and Pennsylvania.

She attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL, and graduated with an associate degree in Mortuary Science.

Karen enjoys wring about the funeral industry because her passion is helping families in their deepest time of need. She feels being a funeral director is a calling and she is proud to fulfill this role.

Karen is a wife and the mother of four sons. She, her husband and their youngest son call Pennsylvania home.

4 thoughts on “Letters to Loved Ones After Death: 10 Things You Need to Say”

I always thought of this but didn’t know how. Thank you so much. This definitely inspired me on how to get started.

I have been making my wishes a common conversation with my Sons. My Junior son, during our conversation, did not want my home, so I paid him off, giving my Oldest son the home and two cars. I am ok with this, and it allows them to know everything is settled, and both agree to the terms. What a blessing to have things settled before the end. My Junior asked what to do with my ashes, I replied, ” Spread them on I55 on your way going south to your home, I don’t care as I will be coming back as you will recognize not as ashes”. The three of us are satisficed with our decisions.

I want my ashes to go to both of of son what size urns would I need

Most adult urns hold 200 cubic inches of remains. You can use two adult urns when dividing the ashes , or you can go with smaller urns that hold around 100 cubic inches.

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Sample funeral biography

Sample funeral biography: a guide to writing a tribute to your loved one.

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences that we may encounter in life. When a family member or friend passes away, it can be challenging to find the right words to express how much they meant to us. One way to honor their memory is by writing a funeral biography or obituary. This article will provide you with a guide to writing a sample funeral biography, including the essential elements that should be included.

What is a funeral biography?

A funeral biography is a written tribute to a person who has passed away. It is an opportunity to celebrate and remember their life, achievements, and contributions. Funeral biographies are usually read at the funeral or memorial service, published in the obituary section of a newspaper or online, or included in a funeral program.

Why write a funeral biography?

Writing a funeral biography can be a therapeutic process for those who are grieving. It allows you to reflect on the life of your loved one and remember the happy moments you shared together. A funeral biography also serves as a way to inform others about the deceased’s life, accomplishments, and personality. It is a way to honor their memory and celebrate their life.

How to write a funeral biography?

Writing a funeral biography may seem like a daunting task, but it can be a meaningful and healing process. Here are the essential elements that should be included in a funeral biography:

1. Basic Information

The first section of the funeral biography should include basic information about the deceased, such as their full name, age, date of birth, and date of death. You can also mention their place of birth and where they lived.

2. Family Background

The next section should provide information about the deceased’s family background, including their parents’ names, siblings, spouse, children, and grandchildren. You can also mention their family traditions, values, and beliefs.

3. Education and Career

The third section should highlight the deceased’s education and career. You can mention the schools they attended, degrees they earned, and any professional organizations they were a part of. You can also highlight their career achievements, such as promotions, awards, or significant projects.

4. Hobbies and Interests

The fourth section should focus on the deceased’s hobbies and interests. You can mention their favorite activities, such as sports, music, or art. You can also highlight any volunteer work they did or any causes they were passionate about.

5. Personality and Traits

The fifth section should provide insight into the deceased’s personality and traits. You can mention their sense of humor, kindness, or any other qualities that made them unique. You can also include any stories that showcase their personality.

6. Legacy and Contributions

The final section should focus on the legacy and contributions of the deceased. You can mention any charitable causes they supported or any community service they did. You can also highlight any impact they had on their family, friends, or community.

Why use FuneralPamphlet.com?

FuneralPamphlet.com is an online platform that provides customizable funeral programs, obituaries, and funeral biographies. With FuneralPamphlet.com, you can create a personalized tribute to your loved one that reflects their unique personality and life story. FuneralPamphlet.com offers a wide range of templates, designs, and themes to choose from, making it easy to create a funeral biography that honors your loved one’s memory.

In conclusion, writing a funeral biography is a meaningful way to remember and celebrate the life of your loved one. It allows you to reflect on their achievements, contributions, and personality. With the help of FuneralPamphlet.com, you can create a personalized tribute that honors their memory and provides comfort to those who are grieving.

• Books About Death

List of 15 Famous Posthumously Published Books

Updated 09/26/2023

Published 05/14/2020

Kate Wight, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Many writers never successfully publish a book. Some writers manage a balance of luck and skill to get their work published in their lifetime. Other writers see success, but only posthumously, after their deaths.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Famous posthumously published books, young adult & children’s books published posthumously, anthologies, screenplays, and plays published posthumously.

Some such writers make such a name for themselves that even their unfinished works gain interest after they die. Many life-changing books have been published after the death of their authors. Here we list some of the most notable posthumously published works in literary history. 

Author Anne Lamott described every writer’s worst fear as dying before they can polish up a terrible first draft. Writers are often perfectionists who hate to think of being defined by subpar work.

Many of the pieces below were left incomplete because of the death of their author. However, the work itself was still notable enough to warrant publishing. 

1. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

We all have strange things that we fixate on. Michelle McNamara was obsessed with true crime, specifically the case of the Golden State Killer. I'll Be Gone in the Dark explores the investigation of the then-unknown killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s. It also delves into how preoccupation with the case took over her life.

McNamara died with only two-thirds of her manuscript complete. Her husband and friends came together to finish the book based on her notes and research over the next two years. And two months after the book’s publication, the elusive killer was finally caught.

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2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Stieg Larsson was a celebrated journalist in his native Sweden. He was known for his exposes on far-right radicals.

As a distraction, he penned a trio of gritty crime novels about a young computer hacker with a troubled past, beginning with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo . He never attempted to publish the books, but they became international bestsellers after his death.

3. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

The picaresque novel A Confederacy of Dunces was rejected countless times during Toole’s life. In fact, many believe its failure led to the author’s suicide at age 31.

But determined friends and family kept shopping it around until it was finally published over a decade after his death. In 1981, Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It’s a bittersweet consolation that he never got to appreciate. 

4. Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky

Némirovsky was a Ukrainian-Jewish novelist who perished at the Auschwitz concentration camp at the age of 39. Her daughter Denise managed to flee to safety during World War II but didn’t realize she had the manuscript to this book in her possession.

She assumed it was a diary, and didn’t read it for more than sixty years because she wasn’t ready to confront painful memories of the loss of her mother.

She planned to donate her mother’s notebooks to a French archive and set out to translate them. Then she realized it was not a diary, but a novel in her possession. When it was published, Suite Française  became a highly-acclaimed worldwide success. It’s notable for the fact that it was a contemporary novel when written, but a historical novel by the time it was published.

5. The Trial by Franz Kafka

Kafka is notable because the bulk of his work was published after his death. Kafka was deeply self-critical. He published a handful of short stories in various literary publications, but they failed to attract much attention. It is thought that he destroyed as much as 90% of his work without sharing it with people.

In his will, he left instructions that any other writing that was found should be similarly destroyed. His friend Max Brod, the executor of his estate, ignored this directive. Subsequently, Kafka became well-known after his death.

His work shares themes—anxiety, guilt, and alienation among them. This is perhaps unsurprising, as he was a rather anxious and paranoid person. The Trial  is perhaps his most emblematic work. 

Children’s book authors are often quite prolific. Once they unlock that special formula, they’re able to continue revisiting the world they’ve built. Here we share posthumous books created by some of the best-known children’s book authors. We also talk about a child author who was taken from the world too soon. 

6. The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones and Ursula Jones

Diana Wynne Jones was a prolific British author. She was known primarily for writing fantasy and speculative fiction novels aimed at young adults and children. Her seven-book Chrestomaci series was beloved by children around the world. She also was known for penning the novel Howl’s Moving Castle , which was the basis for the beloved Studio Ghibli film of the same name.

At the time of her death, she was working on a new novel called The Islands of Chaldea . Her sister Ursula Jones, also a published children’s book author, completed the manuscript and published it.  

7. Daisy-Head Mayzie by Dr. Seuss

Theodore Geisel (better known by his pen name of Dr. Seuss) wrote some of the best-known children’s books of all time. Daisy-Head Mayzie was the first of his books to be published posthumously. Efforts were made to tie this book to the body of work published while he was alive.

The book is narrated by his iconic The Cat in the Hat character, and it was illustrated to mimic his distinctive drawing style. In 2016, it was republished again. This time, the publication included his unaltered original text and drawings.  

8. Roald Dahl’s Guide to Railway Safety by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was known for writing darkly comedic novels for kids. His last work, Roald Dahl's Guide to Railway Safety , was actually commissioned by the British Railways Board. It was intended to educate young children on how to enjoy the railway system safely.

Dahl was known for breaking the rules of children’s books with his cynically humorous style. He would have enjoyed the irony of his posthumously published final work being a rule book. 

9. Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein was another beloved and prolific children’s book author. He was perhaps best-known for the bittersweet book The Giving Tree .

But he also wrote sublimely silly poetry for kids. Runny Babbit is filled with rhyming spoonerisms that appeal to people with a goofy and childlike sense of humor.

10. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank  has long been a staple of required reading for high-school-aged students. Frank herself had just turned thirteen when she penned these words in her personal diary. Over the next two years, she would document her daily travails.

It is what you would expect the diary of a young teenage girl to look like. There are musings about friendship and suitors. But she also discusses the difficulty of having to live hidden in an attic as a Jewish person during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. It remains an effective teaching tool for teens, thanks to its personal sense of urgency.

Books aren’t the only forms of literature that can be released or recognized after the creator’s death. Sylvia Plath, who was known for writing poems about death , received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize. These authors all received accolades for plays and screenplays released posthumously.  

11. Gone With the Wind by Sidney Coe Howard

Adapting Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone With the Wind was no easy feat. The Civil War and Reconstruction-era tome clocked in at over a thousand pages. Howard, an award-winning playwright, did an excellent job adapting the sweeping story into a film.

Sadly, Howard was killed in a farm accident in 1939, months before Gone With the Wind was released in theaters. However, he was posthumously awarded an Academy Award for his adapted screenplay in 1940. 

12. Fried Green Tomatoes by Carol Sobieski

Over a twenty-year time period, Carol Sobieski wrote and adapted over a dozen screenplays. She seemed to gravitate towards stories featuring strong and interesting female characters. She is perhaps best known for co-writing the screenplay for Fried Green Tomatoes with author Fannie Flagg.

Sadly, Sobieski died of liver disease in 1990, over a year before the film was released. However, she was posthumously nominated for an Academy Award for her work on the screenplay. 

13. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Tess Slesinger

Slesinger was a groundbreaking figure in many ways. In 1932, she published a short story based on her own experience of having an abortion. This was an extremely taboo topic at the time. She was also an open supporter of the Communist Party when she could have been blacklisted in Hollywood for those political leanings.

She co-wrote the screenplay for an adaptation of Betty Smith’s seminal book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn . Unfortunately, she died of cancer at the age of 39, a full year before the film would be released. 

14. Rent by Jonathan Larson

Jonathan Larson was a playwright and composer known for exploring social issues in his work. He didn’t shy away from topics like addiction, poverty, and homophobia. He was a rising star on the Broadway scene when he died suddenly of an aortic dissection at age 35.

At the time, his newest work, Rent, was about to open for preview performances off-Broadway. It went on to become a huge hit that ran on Broadway for over twelve years. Its original cast went on to achieve fame and accolades. Undoubtedly, Larson would have gone on to create more great work, too. 

15. Waitress by Adrienne Shelly

Writer and actress Adrienne Shelly was murdered when she was just 40. Sadly, she was on the cusp of having a huge career break.

Her film Waitress debuted at the Sundance Film Festival a year after her death. The movie was such a beloved critical success, that it has now been adapted into a hit musical, too. 

Posthumously-Published Books to Read and Enjoy

Many people turn to books about death when they need to examine the issues around mortality. Reading a posthumously published book can have a similar effect. It helps remind us that even when we die, parts of our story can still be told. 

If you're looking for more recommendations, read our guide on the best inspiring biographies . Or, if you're looking for more on posthumous accomplishments, read our guides on posthumous Oscars .

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Hippocrates

Although Hippocrates probably didn't write the famous oath that bears his name, it serves as foundation for the oath medical school graduates take at the start of their careers.

Who Was Hippocrates?

Greek physician Hippocrates lived during the age of Pericles. Though considered the paragon of modern medicine, it’s difficult to separate the facts from the legend and adequately assess his medical acumen. A compilation of writings attributed to Hippocrates presents a rudimentary understanding of how the body works and the nature of disease. A lasting legacy is the Hippocratic oath, derived from his ethical practices and standards, that serves as a moral guide for physicians today.

Hippocrates was born on the Aegean island of Kos around the middle of the fifth century, BCE. With little knowledge of his life experiences, historians rely on a biography written some 500 years after his death by another Greek physician, Soranus, which was drawn from legend and a collection of medical writings commonly called the Hippocratic Corpus.

His formal name was Hippocrates Asclepiades, meaning "descendant of (the doctor-god) Asclepios." Born into a wealthy family, the son of Praxithea and Heracleides, Hippocrates was likely given a solid education in the basic subjects. He went on to a formal secondary school before learning medicine from his father and another physician Herodicus. Historians believe Hippocrates traveled throughout the Greek mainland and possibly Libya and Egypt practicing medicine.

Known for his teaching as much as his healing abilities, Hippocrates passed on his medical knowledge to his two sons and started a school for medicine on the island of Kos around 400 BCE. It was probably here that many of the methods attributed to Hippocrates were developed.

The Hippocratic Corpus

Much of what is known about these methods comes from a collection of more than 60 medical books known as the Hippocratic Corpus, considered the oldest writings on medicine. Compiled 100 years after his death, historians believe the documents may be the work of many different physicians practicing medicine during Hippocrates’ lifetime and later. However, a unique aspect of the writings is that they share basic assumptions about how the body works and the nature of disease. The books were written for different fields of medicine—physicians, pharmacists, and the layperson, not so much to practice medicine, but to be able to talk with the doctor.

According to the Corpus, Hippocratic medicine recommended a healthy diet and physical exercise as a remedy for most ailments. If this did not reduce sickness, some type of medication was recommended. Plants were processed for their medicinal elements. The Corpus also describes how joints could be repositioned, the importance of keeping records of case histories and treatments, and the relationship between the weather and some illnesses.

Though Hippocratic medicine believed disease was caused by natural forces — instead of the will of the gods as was commonly believed — it didn’t have a firm understanding of the nature of what makes people ill. Doctors at the time only observed sick people, not the diseases themselves. Most descriptions of internal organs were based on what could be seen or felt externally. Dissections of animals were performed to make comparisons with the human body, but fifth-century Greek ethics forbid dismemberment of humans.

The Hippocratic Oath

The very familiar “Hippocratic Oath” is a document on medical practices, ethics, and morals. Originally, Hippocrates was credited with composing the oath, however, newer research indicates it was written after his death by other physicians influenced by the medical practices in the Corpus. Though not applied in its original form today, the many modernized versions that exist serve as the foundation for the oath medical graduates take at the start of their careers. Some of the basic tenets of the oath include practicing medicine to the best of one’s ability, sharing knowledge with other physicians, employing sympathy, compassion and understanding, respecting the privacy of patients and helping to prevent disease whenever possible.

Little is known about Hippocrates' death or age, though it is widely held that he died in the Ancient Greek town of Larissa, around 377 BCE. Many historians believe he may have lived into his 80s or 90s. What is known is that he made a major contribution to medicine and set a standard for ethical practices.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 460
• Birth City: Kos
• Birth Country: Greece
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Although Hippocrates probably didn't write the famous oath that bears his name, it serves as foundation for the oath medical school graduates take at the start of their careers.
• Science and Medicine
• Interesting Facts
• Hippocrates probably didn't write the oath that bears his name. Later physicians crafted it from his teachings.
• Death Year: 370
• Death City: Larissa
• Death Country: Greece
• Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
• Walking is man’s best medicine.
• Make a habit of two things, to help; or at least to do no harm.
• Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.

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John the Apostle: Bible Biography, Facts and Death

J ohn the Apostle was one of the 12 disciples of Christ. This disciple was one of the sons of Zebedee who followed our Lord. His story extends many years past the earthly ministry of Christ. John was known as an apostle, author, and the only apostle who was not killed by martyrdom, though not from lack of trying.

John the Apostle

We get the vast majority of our information about John from the pages of the four gospels. We know that John was the younger brother of James and the son of Zebedee (Mark 10:35; Luke 5:10). Though not directly stated, we know that John was called the beloved disciple, or “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20-24). His occupation was as a fisherman before he and his brother became disciples of Christ .

John and James were cousins to Jesus as their mother Salome was the sister of Jesus’ mother Mary (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40). The two brothers were some of the first disciples of Jesus. Based on the language in John chapter 1 it is believed that John was probably the unnamed disciple of John the Baptist. John never refers to himself directly in the book that bears his name.

The two brothers, James and John, were called the sons of thunder by Christ. They seem to have been even tempered men, but there is one story at the end of Luke 9 where they asked Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to consume the unbelieving Samaritans. They must not have been completely docile men for Christ to refer to them as the sons of thunder and to be willing to call down God’s wrath (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:51-56).

Peter, James and John must have had a special relationship with the Lord because of the many times the Bible talks about those three to the exclusion of the other disciples. They were with Christ on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Luke 9:27-36). They (along with Andrew) were with Him for the healing of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37). They were also the inner circle of prayer warriors in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).

The book of the Revelation was written about the vision that John saw while banished to the Greek island of Patmos on the Aegean sea.

John the Author

John wrote 5 books in the New Testament. He wrote The Gospel According to John, First, Second and Third John, and he was the penman of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

All of his books were written later in life and after all the other books in the Bible were recorded. We don’t know the exact time or order of the books having been written, but here are some possible dates:

• The Gospel According to John: AD 80 to 98
• First, Second and Third John: AD 90 to 95
• The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ: AD 94 to 98

Of course we know God inspired the Bible and that it was written with His leading, but this may explain why the book of John seems so applicable to the readers of today. John had more time to think about what questions were raised in the 50 or more years after the resurrection of Christ. He knew what doubts had been raised and how to answer the questions before we knew to ask them.

The Epistles of John were written to various audiences. They were all written after John was an old man living in Ephesus. The first epistle was not addressed to anyone in particular, but was written more as a sermon. The second was written to an unnamed “elect lady.” The third to a man name Gaius. There are three men who bear that name to whom the letter could have been written. There was a Gaius in Macedonia (Acts 19: 29), Corinth (Rom. 16:23), and Derbe (Acts 20:4).

The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ was written by John probably close to the same time he wrote the epistles which bear his name. The book of the Revelation was written about the vision that John saw while banished to the Greek island of Patmos on the Aegean sea. Tradition says that this was after John had been sentenced to death by martyrdom.

John the Martyr

We know little about John’s later life and death from the Bible. The most insightful bit of information comes from John 21 when the risen Christ was talking to Peter about Peter’s death. After Jesus told Peter that he would not live long Peter asked about John’s death. Jesus replied that if John lived until Christ’s return, that was not Peter’s concern. This was not a promise that John would live until the Lord returned, but it does seem to indicate that the Lord knew John would live a long time (John 21:19-23).

Tradition holds that John was sentenced to death in a boiling vat of oil. Yet he emerged unharmed from the experience. Again tradition tells us that John lived into old age dying sometime after AD 98. He is thought to have died in Ephesus.

Here is another article also by David: Samson Bible Story Summary and Study

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version

Tagged as: Bible Study , John the Apostle

Article by David Peach

David Peach has been in full time missions work with the Deaf since 1994. He has started several deaf ministries in various countries and established a deaf church in Mexico. David now works as Director of Deaf Ministries for his mission board.

David has written 207 articles on What Christians Want To Know! Read them in the archive below.

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Author Interviews

Caleb carr's new book is a memoir about life spent with his beloved rescue cat.

Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Caleb Carr, author of the best-selling novel, "The Alienist." Carr has written a memoir, reflecting on his life through the companionship of his scrappy rescue cat, Masha.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Much of the story we're about to hear will be delightful, and some of it will be hard. Caleb Carr is our guest. He's written a memoir called "My Beloved Monster." It's the story of his life over 17 years with Masha, whom he calls his emotionally remarkable cat. They share play and jokes, affection and, finally, the challenge of cancer. Caleb Carr, bestselling novelist, author of "The Alienist" and "The Angel of Darkness," joins us now from his home in upstate New York. Thanks so much for being with us.

CALEB CARR: Thank you so much, Scott.

SIMON: How did you and Masha kind of pick each other out at the animal shelter outside of Rutland, Vt.?

CARR: She picked me out. I sort of turned around. I sensed something, and I turned around, and there was this cat in a little cage, and she had decided already that we were at least going to have an interview together. And then when we had the interview, she really decided that I was going to take her home.

SIMON: You found out she'd kind of rejected everyone else, hadn't she?

CARR: Well, she had been abandoned in an apartment and locked up when the people moved, which is, unfortunately, a very common thing in this country. And she'd made so much noise, breaking things and kind of banging around, that she got taken into a shelter. But at the shelter, that experience, I think, largely had just made her very distrustful. And she had attacked the staff. She had attacked people who tried to adopt her. But when I went into the interview room with her, she was as sweet as could be. And the one attendant sort of grabbed me by the arm and said, you've got to take that cat.

SIMON: She was a Siberian forest cat, I guess you discovered.

CARR: She was a breed that I - until then, I had never heard of. They really are ferociously physical and just fascinating cats, really smart. They really have this wild intelligence.

SIMON: Living in the country, you gave her a lot to react to. Let me put it that way.

CARR: Yes, yes. As I say in the book, there is a big debate about whether cats should be allowed outdoors these days. But when you live in some place that's as wild as this - and it really is just a house on - in the foothills of a mountain - I couldn't have stopped her from going outside. It would have killed her. She took one look out the door at the trees that start right at the back porch of the house, and she just was home, and she patrolled that with a dedication and a fierceness that I have never seen before. And Siberians are known for that.

SIMON: May I ask you about your childhood, Mr. Carr?

CARR: Sure.

SIMON: And I'll take the license to call it a horrible childhood. Your father was often drunk and violent. How did a cat named Zorro (ph) and your love of history help you survive?

CARR: Well, I was the child in my family that noticed things and commented on them. When you're dealing with alcoholics, it doesn't earn you any points. And so I experienced a certain amount of violence. And because of that, most nights I was up most of the night and watching and listening what the adults were doing just in case it was coming my way, basically. And Zorro was the first cat that I really chose that was mine. She would come out and lie down next to me as I sat on the top of the stairs. And she had this remarkable capacity to make me feel safe and sort of understood.

SIMON: Cats are really good at companionship, aren't they? They're just there for us.

CARR: Yeah, they are really good at companionship. It's a distinctly different kind of companionship than you get from any other animal, but once you accept it on their terms, it's really amazing. They are always there, often without being there. But they're beside you. They're not on top of you the way that dogs are.

SIMON: Can you tell us about Masha's taste in music?

CARR: Masha had a very refined ear for music, and it's not as weird as it sounds. Cats are very sensitive to the upper ranges of sonics, and they don't like high-pitched sounds, which means that most of the popular music, you're going to find that cats don't really enjoy. But when I discovered that she liked classical music, I would experiment with playing different composers for her while I was working. Before long, it was clear that she had a particular affinity for Wagner. And I know it sounds crazy, but it was true. And I eventually made her her own CDs of orchestral selections, and particularly the prelude to "Das Rheingold."

(SOUNDBITE OF RICHARD WAGNER'S "DAS RHEINGOLD")

CARR: She would just come shooting in from wherever she was. She would hear it going on in my study. If she wasn't already there, she would come shooting in, throw herself on the floor and just start rolling in absolute ecstasy. And I asked a musicologist friend of mine about it, and he said, well, that doesn't surprise me at all. It's probably the most primal piece of classical music that there is.

SIMON: After almost 17 years together, you and Masha just grew sick in astonishingly similar ways, didn't you?

CARR: Yes. And that's part of the most astonishing part of the story. Masha had - certainly had arthritis from the time she was very young. We never really knew what exactly caused it, whether it was trauma or abuse or just having the genetics for it. But she had arthritis in her back legs and her hind legs, and I ended up coming down with peripheral neuropathy quite badly. And then, eventually, we both ended up coming down with cancer.

And it was part of the amazing - the most amazing details of our story that our illnesses were so similar. Because of that, we knew we were tied in even more in terms of knowing what to do for each other and knowing what was going on with each other. And she made it possible - really possible for me to survive. I like to think - I hope that I did the same for her.

SIMON: What do you think that cord is between us and the animals we love, as you've experienced it, and especially strongly with Masha?

CARR: There are so many things that are difficult and lacking in human life that are provided by animals. And there are so many things that we've gotten away from in our civilized human life that are so basic to being alive that animals provide. And it's just that it is so much more basic. And to use a word I used in reference to Masha's musical taste, it's so much more primal that it takes us to a place that kind of defies all of the complications that we've put on life in our own species.

SIMON: Caleb Carr - his book, "My Beloved Monster." I'm so glad you wrote it. Thanks so much for being with us.

CARR: Thank you so much, Scott.

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Mandisa remembered. Fans, music industry, friends pay tribute to 47-year-old singer

Grammy-award winning musician and "American Idol" alum Mandisa was found dead at her Nashville home on Thursday.

The 47-year-old Christian singer dazzled audiences when she hit the stage of "American Idol" in 2005 and made it through to the final nine. From there she released her debut album, but dealt with pain from the loss of a beloved friend and having a personal crisis of faith. Her journey through heartache and depression to finding her faith again inspired many that were going through similar situations.

"Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world," was written on an Instagram post announcing Mandisa's death.

Since the news of her death, family, fans and friends in and out of the music industry, have paid tribute to the singer.

What happened to Mandisa?

On Friday, The Media Collective, Mandisa's rep, issued this statement confirming her death, but did not disclose how the songstress died.

"We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time."

Mandisa's story and journey to 'Overcome' touched many

Mandisa crisis of faith was an inspiration not only for an album, but inspired others who were going though hardship. Fans shared their stories on the Instagram post announcing her death.

"I’m devastated 💔💔💔 Overcomer help me healed when I loss my daughter at 16. She gave hope even when she didn’t have any to give herself. Mandisa is truly one of God’s Devine. I hope she finally has the peace she struggled so long to find. We have truly really loss one of God’s truest and purest creatures… I love you now and forever on Mandisa. God speed on your journey to heaven….," wrote user keishacraftsmith.

Other's shared how her music and writing helped them through some of the toughest times in their lives. Actress Candace Cameron Bure shared broken heart emojis under the post, while Christian rap artist Wande offered condolences.

Fellow Christian musician and friend Colton Dixon, shared memories of being on the road with Mendisa and Toby Mac.

"Mandisa is the sweetest, kindest soul that  @anniedixon__  and I have met on the road. After hearing she went to be with the Jesus last night I was reflecting this morning on the times we had together," Dixon wrote.

Singer and songwriter Matthew West paid tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator with lyrics from their song "Only the World", stating that they "hit differently" now that Mandisa was gone.

"I am so incredibly saddened to hear about the loss of my friend Mandisa. I will always cherish the memories of times we spent together hosting award shows, going on tour, and most of all helping her tell her story in the songwriting room," West also wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts also paid tribute to the late singer.

"My heart is heavy hearing about Mandisa. Incredibly blessed that she was there my first day back on ⁦ @GMA ⁩ following my long medical leave. Her beautiful music & spirit lifted me and countless others," Roberts wrote on X.

Fellow musician Don Moen provided a statement to The Tennessean, saying Mandisa was not only a powerhouse of a talent, but that she also possessed a genuinely kind spirit.

"We ministered together several times, she sang background vocals on my album 'Thank You Lord' and joined me on several tours," the statement read. "On one particular tour, notes kept appearing in everyone's bunk on the bus or in their instrument cases. These were encouraging messages like: 'You are blessed and highly favored,' or 'You're such a blessing on this tour.' Only at the end of the tour did we discover it had been Mandisa. Whether behind the scenes or center stage, her presence always brought joy and hope.

Where was Mandisa from?

Mandisa was born in California, but her home was in Tennessee.

She graduated Fisk University in Nashville in 2000 and was a member of the famed Fisk University Jubilee singers. She called Tennessee home after her graduation, through her "American Idol" tenure, a Grammy win, multiple albums and until her death on Thursday.

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‘rust’ cinematographer halyna hutchins’ mother’s life ‘ruined’ after shooting death.

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The mother of late “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins said that her daughter’s untimely death “ruined my entire life” in court Monday.

The emotional statement was among many delivered by friends and family in New Mexico District Court before “Rust” set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the Oct. 21, 2021 death of Hutchins — a married mother of one.

“I remember the day that she was no more,” mother Olga Solovey, said through tears, speaking Ukrainian translated in subtitles, on a video recording played for Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. “It’s extremely difficult, extremely difficult for me without her.”

“The day of her death ruined my entire life. It’s heart-wrenching to see her child grow without his mother,” Solovey said of Hutchins’ young son Andros. 

Solovey recounted the day that Hutchins’ husband of 16 years — Matthew Hutchins — called her in the middle of the night to break the horrible news, taking minutes to work up the courage to tell his mother-in-law that her daughter was dead.

“He said ‘Halyna is no more,'” Solovey recalled. “After that moment, I cannot remember anything. I was home alone. I was screaming and kept pleading with him.”

Solovey said she couldn’t believe it was true but Matthew said: ‘”She is gone.'”

“Time does not heal,” the broken-hearted mother said. “It is two and a half years past and it gets worse and worse.”

And Solovey said that no one from the set involved in the shooting, “has ever come to apologize. No one has ever expressed sympathy.”

Gutierrez-Reed — who cried intermittently throughout several victim impact statements — was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last month.

Alec Baldwin, who fired the fatal shot not knowing a live round was in the gun he was rehearsing with, is slated for trial on July 10 for the same charge .

Assistant Director David Halls previously pleaded guilty to negligently handling the gun and he received probation.

The judge also heard a translated video statement from Svetlana Zemko — Hutchins’ sister — who described how close she was to her sibling, what a wonderful person Hutchins was and how she dreamed that their kids would one day play together.

“I understand now it will never happen,” said Zemko through tears of her children — whom Hutchins never met — knowing Andros.

“I really didn’t want to cry. It is one thing to talk about how great she was but another to understand she is gone forever,” the sister said.

Gloria Allred — a lawyer for Hutchins’ family — read a statement from her father, Anatoly Androsovych, who couldn’t record a video because of illness.

“ The demise of my daughter Halyna … became the tragedy and biggest bitter loss of my life,” the father said in the statement. “There is no way I can put into words to express the soul-crushing pain and suffering that I live through every day.”

Hutchins’ death “caused an abrupt decline of my health,” Androsovych’s statement read. “Every day I remember Halyna, I remember the moments of our lives.”

He said as a former military man he knows that this could only have happened through “systematic and gross violations” of gun safety protocols.

“Rust” director Joel Souza — who was wounded in the shooting — spoke live through a video feed describing how his life changed for the worse the day of the incident.

“One moment, the world made sense,” Souza said. “The next moment and it didn’t and it still doesn’t. And I don’t know if it will ever be again.”

“I want the pain to go away,” Souza said. “And above all, I want Halyna to be back home with her husband and son.”

A close family friend Steven Metz described how his son and Hutchins’ son were very close and that drew Metz close to Matthew and Halyna.

“Matt has been affected horribly by this and he moved away,” Metz said, noting he and his son both lost their friendships. ”  Basically, Matt died when Halyna died.”

Emilia Mendieta, one of Hutchins’ best friends who went to film school with Hutchins, told the court: “The last four words she ever said to me [were] ‘I believe in you.’ Those four words will forever echo in my soul.”

The friend said the shooting was the result of a “massive system failure,” and said the armorer played a large role in that failure.

“It all boils down to a very simple question. Why was there a live bullet on set?” Mendieta asked. “That is where Hannah Gutierrez-Reed failed Halyna . It was her job to check the gun, check the bullets, to ensure that Halyna was safe.”

Another film friend, Anak Rabanál, sobbed throughout her statement delivered over a video streamed.

“I miss you, my friend,” Rabanál said. “I will do my best to live up to being the person you wanted me to be.”

Gutierrez-Reed, 26 — who has been behind bars since her conviction — begged for leniency and said her heart “aches” over Hutchins’ death.

“I understand she was taken too soon,” Gutierrez-Reed said, her voice breaking with emotion.

But she went on to say that the media had unfairly painted her like a “monster” and tried to pass off blame for the incident. She claimed she hadn’t been given the proper time and resources to effectively uphold gun safety standards on set.

Marlowe Sommer threw the book at the rookie armorer and criticized her for failing to take responsibility.

“You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon,” the judge said.

“The word remorse — a deep regret coming from a sense of guilt for past wrongs. That’s not you,” the judge added.

Hutchins’ mother, dad and sister filed suit last year against Baldwin and the other producers for negligence and other claims and have said they would have been able to flee their war-torn country if Hutchins was still alive.

The production company settled with Matthew Hutchins for an undisclosed amount in 2022.

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Police investigating after 'American Idol' alum, singer Mandisa found dead in home

Christian music sensation Mandisa has died at 47.

The singer was found deceased in her home on Thursday, a rep for Mandisa confirmed to USA TODAY on Friday.

“At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time," her team said via email.

Officers were investigating her death, a spokesperson for the Franklin Police Department told the USA TODAY Network on Friday after the Christian singer and "American Idol" alum was found dead.

"Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world. She wrote this song for a dear friend who had passed in 2017. Her own words say it best. 'I'm already home, You've got to lay it down 'cause Jesus holds me now—And I am not alone,'" a statement posted Friday on her official Facebook account read.

The California native first rose to fame on Season 5 of "American Idol," when she finished within the Top 10.

Later, she released her debut album "True Beauty" and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices in the Christian music industry. The five-time Grammy Award nominee snagged the best contemporary Christian music album award for her 2013 album, "Overcomer," featuring the popular title song.

Passages 2024: Dickey Betts, Eleanor Coppola, Roberto Cavalli, more stars we've lost

Reps for the show issued a statement to USA TODAY about the loss of Mandisa on Friday.

"Mandisa was an adored icon on American Idol and in the music industry. She had become a platinum-selling artist and had won several Grammys for her music. Her passing has left everyone on the show heartbroken, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family," the statement read.

Robin Roberts mourns loss of Mandisa, who she listened to during cancer treatments

In 2017, during an interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Mandisa recounted her struggle with a deep depression three years prior. Mandisa said she became depressed after the death from breast cancer of her best friend LaKisha "Kisha" Mitchell , who was also a background singer for the star.

“It got pretty bad to the point where if I had not gotten off that road I would not be sitting here today,” Mandisa told Robin Roberts on “ GMA .” "I was this close to listening to that voice that told me, ‘You can be with Jesus right now, Mandisa. All you have to do is take your life.'"

Roberts, who listened to Mandisa's song "Stronger" during her own breast cancer treatments, mourned Mandisa's loss in a Facebook post Friday, recounting how the "Idol" alum was present during her first day back on "GMA" after her cancer battle.

"My heart is heavy hearing about Mandisa. Incredibly blessed that she was there my first day back on GMA after my long medical leave. Her beautiful music and spirit lifted me and countless others. Sending prayers and condolences to her family & loved ones." she said, adding a link of Mandisa's performance .

Mandisa's death shared by Christian radio station: 'Struggles are over'

Mandisa's death was first shared in a blog post by Christian radio station K-Love.

In a statement, K-Love Chief Media Officer David Pierce said she "loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn" and asked for prayers for the star's family and friends.

"Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it wasno match for the size of her heart. Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home," the statement read.

Contributing: Melonee Hurt and Craig Shoup; The Tennessean

Mandisa's death prompts police investigation after American Idol star dies unexpectedly at 47

A death investigation has been launched by police after former American Idol star Mandisa Lynn was suddenly discovered dead inside of her home at the age of 47 years old.

The cause of the Grammy award-winning singer's death still remains unknown at this time, but her body was found by police inside of her residence on April 18th. The news of Mandisa's death was confirmed to People by a source that said: "We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased," and added: "At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time."

Mandisa is a well-known and celebrated artist that won over the hearts of viewers after appearing on season 5 of American Idol back in 2006. After her incredible performance on the show, on which she finished in ninth place, Mandisa went on to have a successful career as a gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist.

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READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Review: Taylor Swift's new album isn't for Joe Alwyn or Matty Healy - it's for herself

In the years following her appearance on American Idol , Mandisa went on to release six hit albums throughout her impressive music career. Four of those albums including True Beauty, Freedom (2009), What If We Were Real (2011) and Overcomer (2013) were all awarded Grammy nominations. And in 2014, Mandisa brought home a Grammy Award for her hit song Overcomer.

In 2022, Mandisa went on to release her own memoir titled Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy. In the release, she venerably opened up about her struggles with anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide over the years highlighting, an especially dark period after the death of her close friend. In the honest memoir, Mandisa explained that the only way was she able to overcome the difficult time was through her faith and unwavering support system.

Following Mandisa's unexpected passing, a number of heartfelt tributes have poured in remembering the beloved singer. The official American Idol page on Instagram made a special shoutout to their former contestant Friday afternoon that read: "Mandisa was an adored icon on American Idol and in the music industry. She had become a platinum-selling artist and had won several Grammys for her music. Her passing has left everyone on the show heartbroken, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family."

In the comments, Mandisa's fans remembered the famous singer and the incredible impact she made on her listeners. One fan wrote: "Her music came to me during a time in my life that helped me through a tough time." Another wrote: "I cried when I heard the news today. Her music kept me going during my battle with the most rare breast cancer (stage 3B) you can get. I'm listening to her music right now and I won't stop. She was kind, beautiful and had such a powerful singing voice!" And a third added: "She’s an overcomer and I have absolutely faith that she is singing songs of praise in glory in heaven right now."

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