How to Share a Loved One’s Story in the Newspaper

The first step is to choose how you want to tell the story. You can write a short notice or give more detail, but keep the main facts clear: the person’s name, when and where they lived, and a brief summary of their life. Next decide how you will send the information. A quick email works, but it must include all the details from a checklist that lists your name, address, phone numbers, and any alternate contacts. If you prefer a guided process, the online portal will walk you through each part of the notice. It’s useful for people who want to see how everything looks before it goes out. Sometimes you need help, and that’s fine. The obituary desk can be reached by phone to answer questions about deadlines or how long the notice will appear. A photo can make the notice more personal, and it’s best to use a JPEG or PDF. Other file types are accepted, but the office will let you know if there’s a problem. If you want to run the notice for more than one day, there is a discount, but it only works if you schedule it on the first day and keep the same photo for each appearance.To publish, the office must verify that the person has indeed passed away. They will call a funeral home or cremation society and ask for confirmation, or you can provide a death certificate. After the office checks everything, they will send you a proof by fax or email. Read it carefully and let them know of any mistakes before the deadline, otherwise they can’t make changes later. When you’re happy with the proof, call to pay. Payments are accepted by phone only, either by credit card or electronic transfer; you’ll need to give the routing and account numbers. The price starts at $162 for up to 12 lines; each extra line costs $12. If the notice is longer than 40 lines, you get a small discount on each line. Running it twice saves 20% on both runs, and the third run can be free if you place three notices. Photos cost $125 per day, so two photos for two days would add $500 to the bill. All of this has a strict schedule: you must hit each deadline if you want the notice to appear on the day you want. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. , and closed on weekends and holidays.