Losing a loved one is a deeply personal and challenging experience. During these times, announcing their passing and celebrating their life becomes an important step in the grieving process and allows the community to pay their respects. Pioneer Press, a trusted source for local news and community information, offers a platform to publish obituaries, ensuring your loved one’s memory is honored with dignity and respect. This guide provides you with a step-by-step process on how to place an obituary with Pioneer Press.
Essential Information for Obituary Submission
To begin the process of placing an obituary, please gather the following general information. This will help the Pioneer Press obituary desk process your request efficiently.
- Your Full Name: Please provide your complete first and last name.
- Address: Include your full address, specifying City, State, and Zip Code.
- Phone Number: A primary phone number where you can be reached.
- Alternate Phone Number: If available, please provide a secondary phone number for contact purposes.
Crafting Your Obituary Specification
Once you have your general information prepared, you will need to outline the specifics of the obituary itself. Providing the details below will ensure your obituary accurately reflects your wishes and honors your loved one appropriately.
- Name of Deceased: Clearly state the full name of the person who has passed away.
- Obituary Text: Compose the text of the obituary. This is where you share the life story, achievements, and loving memories of the deceased.
- Photo (Optional): Adding a photo can personalize the obituary. Acceptable file formats are JPEG or PDF. TIF and other formats are also accepted, and the obituary desk will contact you if there are any issues.
- Ad Run Dates: Specify the dates you wish the obituary to be published.
- Multi-Day Run Discount: Pioneer Press offers discounts for obituaries running for more than one day. To avail of this discount, the multi-day schedule must be confirmed on the initial run date. If a photo is included, it must run for all scheduled days to qualify for the discount. Contact the obituary desk for detailed information on multi-day discounts.
Key Policies for Obituary Submissions
Pioneer Press adheres to certain policies to ensure the integrity and accuracy of published obituaries. Understanding these policies will help streamline the submission process.
Verification of Death
To maintain the authenticity of obituary announcements, Pioneer Press requires verification of death. You will need to provide either:
- Funeral Home/Cremation Society Information: 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 passing.
- University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program (or similar): If the deceased’s body was donated to a program like the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, their phone number is required for verification.
- Death Certificate: A death certificate is also accepted as proof of death. Only one of these verification methods is necessary.
Please allow sufficient time for verification, especially during weekend hours when funeral homes may have limited availability.
Guestbooks and Outside Websites
Pioneer Press policy restricts referencing external media sources that host guestbooks or obituaries. However, you can include a funeral home website or a family email address for contact purposes within the obituary. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the obituary desk for clarification.
The Obituary Placement Process
Submitting your obituary is a straightforward process designed to ensure accuracy and satisfaction.
- Submission: Email your obituary information, including the checklist details and photo (if applicable), to [email protected].
- Proof Review: Once your submission is received, Pioneer Press will send you a proof via fax or email for your review before publication. This proof will include the obituary text, scheduled publication dates, and the total price.
- Careful Review: It is crucial to carefully review the proof for any errors or necessary changes.
- Corrections and Approval: Notify the obituary desk of any errors or changes before the daily deadline to ensure corrections are made before publication in the Pioneer Press.
- Final Proofing Responsibility: Pioneer Press is not responsible for errors discovered after final proofing and publication.
Online Obituary Management
Changes to obituaries published online can be managed by contacting the obituary desk directly. Call them with any questions or modifications needed for the online version.
Payment Information
Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices before publication. Payment must be made by the specified deadline in the deadline schedule.
Rates
Understanding the rate structure will help you plan for the cost of the obituary.
- 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 charged at $12.20.
- Obituaries Under 10 Lines: Even if the obituary is shorter than 10 lines, the minimum charge of $162 applies.
- Second Run Date Line Rate: For obituaries running for a second day, the line rate is $8.20 per line, starting from the first line.
- Photo Charge: Each photo published is $125 per day. For example, publishing two photos for two days would incur four photo charges, totaling $500.
Payment Methods
Pioneer Press offers convenient payment options:
- Credit Card: Payments via credit card are accepted over the phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations. Call 651-228-5263 to make a credit card payment.
- EFT (Check by Phone): You can pay by check over the phone by providing your routing number and account number.
- Cash: Cash payments are accepted at the Pioneer Press front counter, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Deadlines for Submission
Adhering to the deadlines is essential to ensure your obituary is published on your desired date. Please note that deadlines are strictly enforced.
| Hours | Deadline (no exceptions) | Ad | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONDAY – FRIDAY 9:00AM – 5:00 PM | Next Day Publication | Must receive obituary content and payment same day by 4:30PM. Make changes by 5:00PM | Must receive photo(s) by 4:30PM |
| SATURDAYS 10:00AM – 2:00PM | Sunday Publication | Must receive obituary content and payment same day by 1:30PM. Make changes by 2:00PM | Must receive photo(s) by 1:30PM |
| SUNDAYS 12:00PM – 3:00PM | Monday Publication | Must receive obituary content, payment, and final changes same day by 2:30PM | Must receive photo(s) by 2:30PM |
Memoriam Submissions (Non-Obituary)
In addition to obituaries, Pioneer Press also publishes Memoriam submissions. These are remembrances of loved ones who have passed and offer a different format from traditional obituaries. Rates for memoriam submissions differ from obituary rates.
For more information on memoriam submissions, please:
- Call 651-228-5280
- Email [email protected]
Memoriam submissions are handled during business hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed weekends and holidays).
Pioneer Press is here to assist you in honoring your loved one’s memory with a respectful and informative obituary. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and meaningful obituary placement process.
