The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a trusted source for local news and community information, including obituaries. For those looking to announce the passing of a loved one, understanding the process for placing an obituary is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to submit an obituary to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, ensuring your announcement is handled with care and professionalism.
Placing an Obituary in the Pioneer Press
Submitting an obituary to the Pioneer Press requires careful attention to detail. As there is no online submission portal, all obituaries must be sent via email. To begin the process, compile the following information and email it to [email protected]. For immediate assistance or questions, you can contact the obituary desk directly at 651-228-5263.
Information Needed for Submission
To ensure your obituary is processed efficiently, please include the following details in your email submission:
General Information:
- Your Full Name: This is for contact purposes regarding the obituary placement.
- Address: Including City, State, and Zip Code.
- Phone Number: A primary phone number for communication.
- Alternate Phone Number: Optional, but recommended for ease of contact.
Obituary Specification:
- Name of Deceased: The full name of the person being memorialized.
- Obituary Text: The written content of the obituary itself. Be prepared to provide the complete text.
- Photo (Optional): A photograph to accompany the obituary. JPEG or PDF files are preferred, but TIF and other formats are accepted. The Pioneer Press will contact you if there are any issues with the photo file.
- Ad Run Dates: Specify the dates you wish the obituary to be published. Running the obituary for multiple days can qualify for a discount, which must be scheduled at the time of the initial run date. If a photo is included, it must run on all scheduled days to be eligible for the discount. Contact the obituary desk for detailed pricing information on multi-day runs with photos.
Verification of Death Policy
The St. Paul Pioneer Press requires verification of death to publish an obituary. To facilitate this, you must provide the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. The Pioneer Press obituary desk will contact them during business hours to verify the passing. If the deceased donated their body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar organization, their contact information is also acceptable for verification.
Providing this information promptly, especially during weekend hours when funeral home hours may be limited, will help ensure timely processing of the obituary. Alternatively, a death certificate is also accepted as verification, though only one of these verification methods is necessary.
Guestbook and Website Policies
When placing an obituary with the Pioneer Press, it’s important to note their policy regarding external links. References to guestbooks or obituaries hosted on other media sources or websites are not permitted in print or online obituaries published by the Pioneer Press. However, you can include a website for the funeral home or a family email address for contact purposes. If you have questions about this policy, please contact the obituary desk for clarification.
The Obituary Process
Once you have submitted all the necessary information, the Pioneer Press obituary desk will prepare a proof of the obituary and send it to you via fax or email for review before publication. This proof will include the complete obituary text, scheduled publication dates, and the total cost.
Review the proof very carefully for any errors or necessary changes. It is crucial to notify the Pioneer Press of any corrections before the publication deadline for each day’s paper. The Pioneer Press is not responsible for errors that appear after final proof approval and publication.
Changes to online obituaries after publication can be made by contacting the obituary desk directly. Call them with any required modifications.
Payment Procedure
Pre-payment is mandatory for all obituary notices before they are published. Payment must be received by the specified deadline in the deadline schedule. After you receive the proof and approve its contents, call 651-228-5263 to make your payment.
The Pioneer Press accepts the following payment methods:
- Credit Card: Payments are accepted over the phone only due to Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations.
- EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer): You can pay by phone using a check. Please provide your routing number and account number.
- Cash: Cash payments are accepted at the Pioneer Press front counter, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Obituary Rates
Understanding the pricing structure is an important part of placing an obituary. The rates are structured as follows:
- Minimum Charge: $162 for the first 10 lines of text.
- Cost Per Additional Line: $12.20 for each line after the initial 10 lines. If the obituary is less than 10 lines, the minimum charge of $162 still applies.
- Second Run Date Discount: For obituaries running for a second day, the line rate is reduced to $8.20 per line, starting from the first line. For example, a 20-line obituary on the first day would cost $164 (after the initial minimum).
- Photo Charges: Each photo published costs $125 per day. For instance, publishing two photos for two days would result in four photo charges, totaling $500.
Deadlines
To ensure your obituary is published on your desired date, it is critical to adhere to the following deadlines. Please note that these deadlines are strictly enforced.
| Publication Day | Deadline (No Exceptions) | Obituary Content & Payment Deadline | Photo(s) Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday – Friday | Next Day Publication (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM) | Same day by 4:30 PM (Changes by 5:00 PM) | Same day by 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | Sunday Publication (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) | Same day by 1:30 PM (Changes by 2:00 PM) | Same day by 1:30 PM |
| Sunday | Monday Publication (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM) | Same day by 2:30 PM (Final changes by 2:30 PM) | Same day by 2:30 PM |
Memoriam Notices (Non-Obituary Requests)
In addition to obituaries, the Pioneer Press also publishes Memoriam notices. These are remembrances of loved ones who have passed, distinct from formal obituaries. The rates and submission process for memoriam notices are different from obituaries.
For more information on placing a memoriam, please call 651-228-5280 or email [email protected]. The memoriam desk is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed on weekends and holidays.
By following these guidelines, you can confidently place an obituary in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, ensuring a respectful and timely announcement for your loved one.
