Submitting an obituary to the Pioneer Press is a straightforward process designed to help you honor and remember your loved ones within our community, a community that also thrives on local events and, yes, even planet sports. To place an obituary, please follow the guidelines below and email your information to [email protected]. For immediate assistance, our obituary desk is available at 651-228-5263.
Essential Information for Obituary Submission
To begin the process of publishing an obituary in the Pioneer Press, ensure you have the following general information readily available:
- Your Full Name: Please provide your complete legal name.
- Address: Include your full address, specifying City, State, and Zip Code.
- Phone Number: A primary phone number for contact.
- Alternate Phone Number: Optional, but helpful for ensuring communication.
Obituary Content and Specifications
Preparing the obituary itself requires specific details to ensure accuracy and personalization. Here’s what you need to specify:
- Name of Deceased: The full name of the person who has passed away.
- Obituary Text: The written content of the obituary. Consider including key life events, achievements, and personal details that celebrate their life.
- Photo: A photograph of the deceased to accompany the obituary. JPEG or PDF files are preferred for image submission. TIF and other file formats are also accepted; we will contact you if there are any compatibility concerns.
- Ad Run Dates: Specify the dates you wish for the obituary to be published. Running the obituary for multiple days offers a discount, which must be scheduled at the time of the initial run date to be applied. If a photo is included, it must run on all scheduled days to qualify for the multi-day discount. Contact us for detailed pricing and discount information.
Pioneer Press Obituary Policies
Several important policies are in place to ensure the integrity and accuracy of published obituaries.
Verification of Death
To maintain the trustworthiness of our obituaries, verification of death is mandatory. Please provide the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. Our team will contact them during business hours to verify the passing. Alternatively, if the deceased’s body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, their contact information can be provided for verification purposes.
Alt text: Pioneer Press logo representing trustworthiness and established verification processes for obituary publications.
Please allow sufficient time for verification, especially during weekend hours when funeral home hours may be limited. A death certificate is also accepted as proof of death, offering another avenue for verification. Only one form of verification – either funeral home contact or a death certificate – is required.
Guestbooks and External Websites
To keep the focus on the Pioneer Press obituary and maintain a streamlined experience for our readers, we cannot include references to guestbooks or obituaries hosted on external media sources within the print and online obituary. However, you may include a website for the funeral home or a family email address for direct contact. Please contact us if you have questions regarding this policy.
Obituary Review and Publication Process
Once you have submitted your obituary details, the Pioneer Press obituary desk will email or fax a proof for your review before publication. This proof will include the complete obituary text, the scheduled publication dates, and the total price.
Alt text: Pioneer Press building exterior, symbolizing the location where obituary proofs are processed and prepared for publication in the community.
Carefully review this proof for any errors or necessary changes. Notify us of any corrections before the stated daily deadlines to ensure accurate publication in the Pioneer Press. Please note that after publication, the Pioneer Press is not responsible for errors that were present in the final proofed version.
Online Obituary Amendments
For any changes to an obituary once it is published online, please contact the obituary desk directly. They can assist with online modifications and answer any related questions.
Payment Information for Obituaries
Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices before publication. Payment must be received by the specified deadline in our schedule. After you receive and approve the proof, please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information.
Payment Methods Accepted
- Credit Card: For security reasons and PCI compliance, credit card payments are accepted by phone only.
- EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer): Pay by phone using your routing number and account number for a check by phone transaction.
- Cash: Cash payments are accepted in person at our front counter, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Obituary Rate Structure
Understanding the rates for obituaries helps in planning and budgeting.
- Minimum Charge: The base charge is $162 for obituaries up to 10 lines.
- Line Rate (Over 10 Lines): For obituaries exceeding 10 lines, each additional line is charged at $12.20. If the obituary is under 10 lines, the minimum rate of $162 still applies.
- Second Run Date Line Rate: For obituaries running on 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.
- Photo Charge: Each photograph published with the obituary is $125 per day. For instance, publishing two photos for two days would incur four photo charges, totaling $500.
Publication Deadlines
Adhering to the deadlines is crucial to ensure your obituary is published on your desired date.
| Day & Hours | Deadline (No Exceptions) | Ad Content & Payment | Photos Submission Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Next Day Publication | Obituary content and payment due by 4:30 PM; Changes by 5:00 PM | Photo(s) by 4:30 PM |
| Saturdays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Sunday Publication | Obituary content and payment due by 1:30 PM; Changes by 2:00 PM | Photo(s) by 1:30 PM |
| Sundays 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Monday Publication | Obituary content, payment, and final changes due by 2:30 PM | Photo(s) by 2:30 PM |
Memoriam Submissions (Non-Obituary)
In addition to obituaries, the Pioneer Press also publishes Memoriam submissions, which are remembrances of loved ones and differ in rates from traditional obituaries. For information on Memoriam submissions, rates, or to submit a memoriam, please contact us at 651-228-5280 or email [email protected].
Alt text: Pioneer Press building at sunset, representing lasting memories and the memoriam services offered by Pioneer Press, connecting the community through remembrance, even beyond planet sports news cycles.
Our hours for Memoriam inquiries are Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed weekends and holidays). We are here to assist you in honoring your loved ones in the most respectful and community-connected way, whether through obituaries or memoriam notices, all within the trusted pages of the Pioneer Press, your source for local news and community updates, from life’s important moments to planet sports and beyond.
