Is an obituary worth the cost?

When a loved one dies, the bills can stack up quickly. Is it possible to publish a free obituary notice?

In Canada, it is usually possible to have a death announcement published at a very affordable price, but not for free.

• More and more often, people are choosing to publish obituary announcements directly on websites that are linked with newspapers across the country.
• Sometimes, the funeral director places the notice on behalf of the family; in other cases, it’s a family member or friend who does it.
• In smaller communities, it might be necessary to call the editor of the newspaper to see about publishing an announcement in the obituaries section.

Some people question the necessity of having to pay to announce a death. After all, the “important” people who would want to know about the death have most likely been informed already, right?

• That may be true, but we can’t be aware of all the people who crossed paths with the deceased during his or her life.
• Some old and distant friends will want to pay their last respects.

For help in writing the obituary, you can ask for advice from the staff at the funeral home. The notice usually contains the full name of the deceased, the circumstances of his or her death, and the date and place of death. It should also include the names of the bereaved, which could include the following:

• Parents
• Spouse
• Children
• Siblings

Generally speaking, there isn’t enough room to name grandchildren or nieces and nephews, but you can specify how many of them there are. Lastly, you should give details of the viewing, funeral or interment. You can also express the wish to receive donations for a particular charity instead of flowers. It is often possible to attach a photo to your text for an additional cost.

Although technically it couldn’t be called a free obituary notice, posting news about the death of a loved one on social media is one way to reduce costs. Rather than a formal announcement, however, it would take the form of personal news.

If you have any doubts about how to proceed with the publishing of a death notice, talk to the funeral director who is supporting the family.

• He or she will be able to steer you in the right direction or even relieve you of the task so you can be free to focus on other things.