Quick Guide to Death Notifications

There are several ways to publicly announce the death of your loved one. They include:

A standard obituary runs in a newspaper or online and announces the death, providing a little information about the person who died and about memorial services. Anyone can place an obituary, although the newspaper will usually confirm the death with a funeral home or by looking at a death certificate.

Newspapers charge for obituaries, based on length. The length is usually up to the person placing the obituary.

A death notice is a very brief announcement stating that someone has died. Some newspapers publish death notices for free; others charge. A death notice sticks to the basic facts and doesn't include biographical information. Funeral homes will usually write and place a death notification at your request.

Feature or news obituaries are longer, more detailed obituaries, usually about better-known or somehow unique people. They're written by reporters, who gather the information from family, friends, and other sources. Newspaper editors and staff decide who should be profiled in a news obituary. However, most newspapers are open to suggestions and ideas.

There are a growing number of large websites that specialize in obituaries. They're easy to find with a search using the terms obituary or memorial tribute. They generally publish a variety of obituary styles, and they often include other online services such as guest books, where readers can write their own comments and memories related to the deceased.

Most newspapers also publish their obituaries online. Some charge an extra fee for this; others automatically include it when you buy a print obituary. Be sure to ask about the newspaper's online obituaries when you place the print version.