The St. Paul Pioneer Press serves as a vital source of information for the Twin Cities metro area, and its obituary section is an important community resource for families announcing the passing of loved ones. Understanding how to navigate the process of placing an obituary ensures that you can respectfully and efficiently share news of a death. This guide provides comprehensive information on submitting obituaries to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, ensuring your notice is handled with care and reaches the community effectively.
How to Submit Your Obituary to the Pioneer Press
To begin the process of publishing an obituary, the St. Paul Pioneer Press requires submissions to be sent via email. Directly emailing your information ensures a streamlined process and allows for clear communication with the obituary desk.
Email Your Obituary Details:
Please send all obituary information to [email protected]. This dedicated email address is monitored by the obituary team who will guide you through the next steps.
Contact the Obituary Desk Directly:
For any immediate questions or if you prefer to speak with someone directly, the obituary desk can be reached by phone at 651-228-5263. They are available to assist with inquiries and provide clarification on any part of the submission process.
Essential Information for Your Obituary Submission
To ensure your obituary is processed smoothly and accurately, please include the following details in your submission. This checklist will help you gather all necessary information before you contact the Pioneer Press.
General Information Required
The Pioneer Press requires some basic contact information for the person placing the obituary. This is for communication purposes and to finalize the arrangements.
- 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 easily reached.
- Alternate Phone Number (Optional): Providing a second phone number can be helpful in case the obituary desk is unable to reach you at your primary number.
Obituary Specific Details
The core of your submission will be the details about the deceased and the obituary itself. Please ensure you have the following ready:
- Name of Deceased: The full name of the person who has passed away, as you wish it to appear in the obituary.
- Obituary Text: The written content of the obituary. This should include all the details you wish to share about the deceased’s life, achievements, and funeral arrangements.
- Photo (Optional): A photograph of the deceased can be included to personalize the obituary. The preferred format is JPEG or PDF, but TIF and other file types are also accepted. The Pioneer Press team will contact you if there are any issues with the photo file.
- Ad Run Dates: Specify the dates you would like the obituary to be published.
- Multiple Day Discount: The Pioneer Press offers discounts for obituaries running for more than one day. To avail of this discount, you must schedule all run dates at the time of the initial submission. If you choose to include a photo, it must be used on all run dates to qualify for the discount. Contact the obituary desk for detailed pricing information on multi-day runs and photo inclusion.
Pioneer Press Obituary Policies
The St. Paul Pioneer Press has specific policies in place to ensure the accuracy and integrity of their obituary section. Understanding these policies will help ensure a smooth submission process.
Verification of Death
To maintain the authenticity of obituaries, the Pioneer Press requires verification of death.
- Funeral Home/Cremation Society Contact: You must provide the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. The Pioneer Press will contact them during business hours to verify the death.
- University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program (or similar): If the deceased’s body has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, their contact number is required for verification.
- Death Certificate: Alternatively, a death certificate is also acceptable for death verification. Only one of these verification methods is necessary.
Please ensure you provide this information and allow sufficient time for verification, especially when submitting near weekend hours when funeral homes may have limited availability.
Guidelines Regarding Guestbooks and External Websites
To keep the focus on the Pioneer Press obituary section and avoid directing traffic elsewhere, there are restrictions on referencing external sources.
- No Guestbook or External Obituary References: Obituaries placed in the Pioneer Press, both in print and online, cannot reference guestbooks or obituaries hosted on other media sources or websites.
- Funeral Home Website or Family Email: You may include a website for the funeral home or a family email address for contact purposes. If you have questions about this policy and what is permissible, please contact the obituary desk for clarification.
The Obituary Proofing Process
After you have submitted your obituary, the Pioneer Press will provide a proof for your review. This step is crucial to ensure accuracy before publication.
- Proof via Fax or Email: Once your submission is complete, the Pioneer Press will send a proof of the obituary to you via fax or email.
- Proof Details: This proof will include the complete obituary text, the scheduled publication dates, and the total price for the obituary.
- Careful Review is Essential: It is your responsibility to review the proof carefully for any errors or necessary changes.
- Deadline for Changes: Any errors or changes must be communicated to the Pioneer Press before the daily deadline to ensure corrections are made prior to publication.
- Post-Publication Error Responsibility: The Pioneer Press is not responsible for errors that are present after final proofing and publication. Therefore, meticulous review of the proof is paramount.
Online Obituary Amendments
Changes to an obituary that is already published online can be made through the obituary desk.
- Contact for Online Changes: To modify an online obituary, please contact the obituary desk directly by phone.
Payment Procedures for Obituaries
Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices before they are published. Payment must be completed by the specified deadline outlined in the deadline schedule.
- Payment Timing: Payment is required after you have received and approved the obituary proof, but before the publication deadline.
- Phone Payment: Payment via credit card and EFT (electronic funds transfer/check by phone) are accepted exclusively over the phone due to Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations. Call 651-228-5263 to make a payment.
- Credit Card Payments: Credit card payments are accepted over the phone.
- EFT/Check by Phone: To pay via EFT, you will need to provide your bank routing number and account number when you call.
- Cash Payments: Cash payments are accepted at the Pioneer Press front counter, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Note that cash payments are not accepted on weekends or holidays.
Obituary Rates and Charges
Understanding the rate structure will help you estimate the cost of placing an obituary.
- Minimum Charge: The minimum charge for an obituary is $162 for the first 10 lines.
- Cost Per Line (Over 10 Lines): For obituaries exceeding 10 lines, each additional line is charged at $12.20.
- Minimum Line Charge: Even if an obituary is less than 10 lines, the minimum charge of $162 still applies.
- Second Run Date Line Rate: For obituaries running for a second day, the line rate is reduced to $8.20 per line, starting from the first line.
- Example Calculation (First Run): For a 20-line obituary on the first run date, the cost would be $164 (This example seems incorrect and needs to be recalculated. It should be $162 for the first 10 lines + 10 lines * $12.20 = $162 + $122 = $284).
- Photo Charges: There is a charge of $125 per photo per day of publication.
- Example Calculation (Photos): If you publish two photos in the paper for two days, the total photo charge would be $500 (2 photos x 2 days x $125/photo/day).
Corrected Example Calculation (First Run): For a 20-line obituary on the first run date, the cost would be calculated as follows: $162 (for the first 10 lines) + (10 lines x $12.20 per line) = $162 + $122 = $284.
Obituary Deadlines
Adhering to the deadlines is critical to ensure your obituary is published on your desired date. The Pioneer Press has strict deadlines, and exceptions are not possible.
| 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, the Pioneer Press also publishes Memoriam notices. These are remembrances of loved ones who have passed and are distinct from obituaries in rates and purpose.
- Memoriam Purpose: Memoriams are for remembrance rather than announcing a recent passing.
- Different Rates: The rates for memoriam submissions are different from obituary rates.
- Contact for Memoriam Information: For detailed information on placing a memoriam, including rates and submission guidelines, please call 651-228-5280 or email
[email protected]. - Memoriam Hours: The memoriam desk is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed weekends and holidays).
For any questions regarding placing an obituary in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, remember to contact their dedicated obituary desk. They are ready to assist you through each step, ensuring your announcement is handled respectfully and accurately.
