Placing an obituary in the Pioneer Press to commemorate a loved one’s life is a respectful and lasting tribute. Pioneer Press obituaries serve as an important record for families and communities. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to submit obituaries to Pioneer Press, ensuring the process is as straightforward as possible during a sensitive time. While there isn’t an online submission portal, Pioneer Press offers a dedicated obituary desk to assist you. This guide details the necessary information, specifications, policies, and deadlines to ensure your obituary is published accurately and on time in the Pioneer Press.
General Information Required for Obituary Submission
To begin the obituary placement process, you will need to compile some general information for contact and verification purposes. Please ensure you have the following details ready when you reach out to the Pioneer Press obituary desk:
- Your Full Name: This is for contact purposes regarding the obituary submission.
- Address: Including your City, State, and Zip Code.
- Phone Number: A primary phone number where you can be reached.
- Alternate Phone Number: (Optional) Providing a secondary phone number ensures they can contact you if needed.
Obituary Specifications: Crafting Your Tribute
When preparing the content of the obituary itself, please gather the following specifications to ensure all necessary details are included for today’s Pioneer Press obituaries section:
- Name of Deceased: The full name of the person being memorialized.
- Obituary Text: The written content of the obituary. This should be carefully written and proofread before submission.
- Photo (Optional but Recommended): A photograph of the deceased can be included. Pioneer Press prefers JPEG or PDF files for photos, but TIF and other formats are also accepted. They will contact you if there are any issues with the photo file.
- Ad Run Dates: Specify the dates you wish for the obituary to be published.
- Multiple Day Runs: Discounts are available for obituaries running for more than one day. To avail of this discount, the schedule must be set on the first run date. If a photo is used, it must run for all scheduled days to qualify for the discount. Contact the obituary desk for detailed pricing information on multi-day runs and photo discounts.
Key Policies for Pioneer Press Obituary Submissions
Several important policies are in place to ensure the integrity and accuracy of obituaries published in the Pioneer Press. Understanding these policies is crucial for a smooth submission process.
Verification of Death
Pioneer Press mandates verification of death to publish obituaries. To facilitate this, you must provide the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. Pioneer Press will contact them during business hours to verify the death. If the deceased’s body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, their phone number can be provided for verification instead. Alternatively, a death certificate is also acceptable for death verification; however, only one of these verification methods is required. Please allow sufficient time for verification, especially considering limited weekend hours for funeral homes.
Guestbook and External Website Policies
To maintain the focus on Pioneer Press’s content, obituaries published in print and online cannot reference guestbooks or obituaries hosted on other media sources or websites. 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.
Obituary Proofing and Review Process
Once you submit your obituary, Pioneer Press will send a proof via fax or email for your review before it is published in the newspaper. This proof will include the total price and the scheduled publication dates. It is imperative to review this proof meticulously. Notify Pioneer Press of any errors or required changes before the stated daily deadlines. Pioneer Press is not responsible for errors that appear after final proofing and publication.
Online Obituary Amendments
For any changes needed to an obituary once it is online, please contact the obituary desk directly by phone for assistance.
Payment Information for Obituaries
Pre-payment is mandatory for all obituary notices before publication. Payment must be completed by the specified deadline in the deadline schedule. Contact 651-228-5263 with your payment details after you have received and approved the obituary proof.
Payment Methods Accepted
- Credit Card: Payments via credit card are accepted over the phone only, adhering to Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations for security.
- EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer): You can pay by phone using a check. Please have your routing number and account number ready.
- Cash: Cash payments are accepted at the Pioneer Press front counter, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Obituary Rate Structure
Understanding the rate structure helps in budgeting for the obituary placement.
- Minimum Charge: The minimum charge for an obituary is $162 for the first 10 lines.
- Cost Per Line (After 10 Lines): Each line after the initial 10 lines is priced at $12.20.
- Rate for Obituaries Under 10 Lines: Even if the obituary is shorter than 10 lines, the minimum rate of $162 applies.
- Second Run Date Line Rate: For a second day of publication, the line rate is $8.20 per line, starting from the first line. For instance, a 20-line obituary on the first day would cost $164 for the lines alone (excluding photo charges).
- Photo Publication Cost: Each photo published costs $125 per day. For example, publishing two photos for two days would incur four photo charges, totaling $500.
Deadlines for Obituary Submission
Adhering to the deadlines is critical to ensure your obituary appears on the desired publication date in today’s Pioneer Press obituaries.
| Hours | Deadline (no exceptions) | Ad Content & Payment Deadline | Photo(s) Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONDAY – FRIDAY 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Next Day Publication | Must receive obituary content and payment on the same day by 4:30 PM. Make changes by 5:00 PM | Must receive photo(s) by 4:30 PM |
| SATURDAYS 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Sunday Publication | Must receive obituary content and payment on the same day by 1:30 PM. Make changes by 2:00 PM | Must receive photo(s) by 1:30 PM |
| SUNDAYS 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Monday Publication | Must receive obituary content, payment, and final changes on the same day by 2:30 PM | Must receive photo(s) by 2:30 PM |
Memoriam Requests (Non-Obituary)
Pioneer Press also accommodates Memoriam submissions, which are remembrances of a deceased loved one, distinct from obituaries. Note that the rates for memoriam submissions are different from obituary rates. For detailed information on memoriam submissions, please call 651-228-5280 or email.
Memoriam Contact Information:
Phone: 651-228-5280
Email: [email protected]
Obituary Contact Information:
Phone: 651-228-5263
Email: [email protected]
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Weekends and Holidays)
Submitting an obituary to Pioneer Press is a meaningful way to honor a life. By following this guide and contacting their dedicated obituary desk, you can ensure a respectful and timely tribute for your loved one within today’s Pioneer Press obituaries.
