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The International Association of Obituarists Web Site
Baranick, Alana. "Writing About the Dead and Loving It."
Beam, Alex. "Grave Schism on the Death Beat."
Scanlan, Chip. "Summing Up a Life: Meeting the Obituary's Challenge."
The Society of Professional Obituary Writers, including a link to their blog.
For good examples of obituary leads, see The Spokesman-Review.com.