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Outline: the anatomy of a survivor list and what each role word actually means.
The possessive trap: 'survived by her sons' in a second marriage means step-children, not the deceased's issue.
Predeceased lines are as valuable as survivor lines — they tell you which branches go per stirpes.
Why a name in a guestbook is not a survivor, and why middle initials matter more than anything else on the page.
How to confirm the obituary is even about the right person.