Read recent and archived obituaries and memorial notices from The Eagle Tribune. (2024)

FAQs

What are the differences between death notices and obituaries? ›

The obituary is a longer, more detailed look at the life of the deceased and the death notice is merely a compilation of relevant facts. The obituary also includes those essential details but it expands on them to provide a more complete look at the deceased's life experiences.

Legacy.com hosts obituaries for more than three-quarters of the 100 largest newspapers in the U.S., by circulation. The site attracts more than 30 million unique visitors per month and is among the top 40 trafficked websites in the world.

People read obituaries for a variety of reasons, including staying informed. If a visible community member or acquaintance passes, we have an innate desire to know about it. Most of us know someone who has proclaimed and one time or another that “I read them to make sure my name isn't listed.”

Paying respects and support: By including obituary readings in a funeral or memorial service, attendees have an opportunity to pay their respects to the deceased and offer support to the grieving family. It demonstrates care, compassion, and solidarity during a difficult time.

What Not to Include in an Obituary. Obituaries should never be written in the first person as they're not a personal tribute. As stated above, avoid including any personal addresses or phone numbers. Also, the cause of death is not necessary, as careers and education are not necessary details to include as well.

The late Douglas Legler, from Fargo, North Dakota, may have the funniest and most concise obituary ever. The whole obituary reads "Doug Died." And that's exactly the way he wanted it.

Posting an obituary is not a legal requirement and is a sentimental action. Families don't have to publish one if they don't want it or do not have the funds to do so. While you do not have to share a death note or obituary, you must file a death certificate with your state's office.

Some may feel that it is too personal or private to share with the public, while others may not have the financial means to pay for its publication. Additionally, some families may prefer to grieve privately and not draw attention to the death.

Why do newspapers charge for obituaries? ›

Publishing an obituary in the newspaper is expensive because of the limited space papers have. Newspapers value every inch of each page, so they must charge to use that limited space for an obituary.

Death notice: a paid announcement in a newspaper that gives the name of the person who died and details of the funeral or memorial service, as well as where donations can be made. Obituary: an article written by the newspaper's staff offering a detailed biography of the person who died.

There are two types of obituary advertisem*nts: Death notices and memorial advertisem*nts. The cost is commonly included in funeral packages but can also be paid for personally. Additionally, some funeral providers, like Eirene, offer complimentary online memorials on their website.

When it comes to families of the deceased, their obituaries leave out cause of death information because it's simply their choice — in the end, it's not about how the person died. But rather about how they lived their life.

The family might not have a service, so they felt no need for an obituary, as obituaries are often used to provide information on the funeral. The family may have disagreements about what to include in the obituary.