Why are online obituaries so expensive?

[Anonymous]

Long story short -my father passed away this week. My sister, who has POA over my parents affairs, went to the funeral home with mom to make the arrangements. For whatever reason, my mom asked for bare basics in the obituary - when/where he was born, where he worked, other pertinent dates (marriage) and a list of surviving relatives along with funeral arrangements. Nothing about his life/long hobbies, interests, or personality that belay his character and the life he lived, along with how his life touched others.

I checked other obits at this home, and there are several that reflect the warmth and joy of life I feel that my dad’s is lacking. Given how my mom won’t budge, I wanted to put something on the local paper where we grew up but learned it will cost $1500! My sister is dealing with other legal matters and said she doesn’t care but won’t let me change the obit or suggest any changes.

I guess my question is, other than creating my own and sharing on social media is there a way to inexpensively express the wonderful person my father was?

[Anonymous]

The funeral home that handled my mom's arrangements did an online obituary for free, or at least included in the packet.

We used cremation society of MD, and got the simplest package except for a slightly nicer scattering container, and the whole thing was under $2K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The funeral home that handled my mom's arrangements did an online obituary for free, or at least included in the packet.

We used cremation society of MD, and got the simplest package except for a slightly nicer scattering container, and the whole thing was under $2K.

Thanks, but I think you misunderstood my question. He has an obituary at the funeral home, but it sucks. No one will allow for it to be adjusted so I was looking to send an amended one on my own to a publication or news website and it is too cost prohibitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The funeral home that handled my mom's arrangements did an online obituary for free, or at least included in the packet.

We used cremation society of MD, and got the simplest package except for a slightly nicer scattering container, and the whole thing was under $2K.

Thanks, but I think you misunderstood my question. He has an obituary at the funeral home, but it sucks. No one will allow for it to be adjusted so I was looking to send an amended one on my own to a publication or news website and it is too cost prohibitive.

No one reads the newspaper anymore. Save the money and find another way to honor him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The funeral home that handled my mom's arrangements did an online obituary for free, or at least included in the packet.

We used cremation society of MD, and got the simplest package except for a slightly nicer scattering container, and the whole thing was under $2K.

Thanks, but I think you misunderstood my question. He has an obituary at the funeral home, but it sucks. No one will allow for it to be adjusted so I was looking to send an amended one on my own to a publication or news website and it is too cost prohibitive.

No one reads the newspaper anymore. Save the money and find another way to honor him.

I agree, and wanted to just post it on their online news site but was told it had to include a one-time publication in the paper with the high price tag. The website is forever.

[Anonymous]

It's a way for newspapers to stay in business.

My mom died a few years ago. I staffed a work event a week or so later where there were lots of people. Three people came up to me that day because they had seen the obituary and a few people came to the funeral because they'd seen the obituary.
I was surprised and thought it was nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a way for newspapers to stay in business.

My mom died a few years ago. I staffed a work event a week or so later where there were lots of people. Three people came up to me that day because they had seen the obituary and a few people came to the funeral because they'd seen the obituary.
I was surprised and thought it was nice.

Yes it would be nice, but not $1500 worth of nice. I just thought there’d be another way outside of social media that will get buried within 2 days.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry for your loss. The funeral home we went to offered to put a longer one online than in the paper. We put the same long one in the paper and online (Legacy) so I'm not sure of the price difference, but they offered that as a cheaper option.

Is your family's objection the cost or something else? If just cost (or that plus they don't have the energy to write a longer one), I'd see if the longer one online through the funeral home is an option with their shorter one in the paper.

Also your sister no longer has POA for your dad because that ends at death.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you could add more detail in the post your memories area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The funeral home that handled my mom's arrangements did an online obituary for free, or at least included in the packet.

We used cremation society of MD, and got the simplest package except for a slightly nicer scattering container, and the whole thing was under $2K.

Those are called "death notices" and they are done free and are usually published free because they are "news" and usually just have birth date, death, etc.. If you want something longer, then you will have to pay. We recently did my mother's. Seven people were involved so the end product was quite long but dad was happy so that's what we did. That cost was $140 in legacy.com and $4400 in the local newspaper (ran three days - they mailed us copies, etc.) IT is what it is. This is how papers stay afloat when print media is going out of fashion.

[Anonymous]

My condolences, OP.

No one in my family pays for the newspaper obituary, even though they can afford to. They write the obits themselves and circulate it via email.

I wouldn't pay for a $1500 newspaper obit either, unless it was the specific wish of the deceased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a way for newspapers to stay in business.

My mom died a few years ago. I staffed a work event a week or so later where there were lots of people. Three people came up to me that day because they had seen the obituary and a few people came to the funeral because they'd seen the obituary.
I was surprised and thought it was nice.

Yes it would be nice, but not $1500 worth of nice. I just thought there’d be another way outside of social media that will get buried within 2 days.

It doesn't matter if it gets buried, OP. You repost on the first anniversary, as a remembrance. My neighbor did that, and it was lovely.

[Anonymous]

Alumni magazine?

[Anonymous]

Write your own and email it to people who care.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm in my early 60s. Both my parents have passed away as well as one of my siblings so I have been at this for awhile. I wrote fairly brief notices for the newspaper (the newspaper there is mostly on line with a print copy available only a few days/week) and indicated a sentence to go to the funeral home site for more details. Those included much more information on their lives, etc.

I haven't lived in my hometown in ages so learn about deaths directly from family/friends or FB. From there, I generally find the longer obit on the funeral home website. I can't imagine I'm an outlier doing this.