Creating an obituary for a loved one is a significant way to announce their passing and celebrate their life. The St. Pete Times, serving the Tampa Bay area, provides a platform for these announcements, ensuring your message reaches the community. This guide outlines the essential information you need to place an obituary in the St. Pete Times, covering everything from content to costs and submission procedures.
Essential Information for Your St. Pete Times Obituary
When composing your obituary for the St. Pete Times, certain factual details are crucial. These include:
- Full Name, Age, Location (City, State), and Date of Death: Start with the fundamental details of the deceased.
- Funeral Service Information: Specify the time, date, and location of any planned funeral or memorial services.
- Funeral Home or Crematory Details: Provide the name of the funeral home or crematory that is managing the arrangements.
Beyond these basics, St. Pete Times obituaries offer the opportunity to personalize the tribute. You can enrich the obituary by including details about the deceased’s:
- Activities, Interests, and Hobbies: Share what they loved to do and what brought them joy.
- Affection for Pets: Mention any beloved pets who were part of their life.
- Cherished Memories: Include brief, heartwarming memories that capture their essence.
- Memberships and Career History: List significant organizations they belonged to and their professional achievements.
Consulting with your funeral director is advisable for guidance on composing and placing your notice. However, if you’re managing the submission directly, continue reading for a comprehensive overview.
Understanding Obituary Rates and Placement in the St. Pete Times
Navigating the costs associated with obituaries is important. The St. Pete Times obituary rates are structured as follows:
- Minimum Charge: The first five column lines are complimentary for the first day of publication.
- Additional Lines: For obituaries exceeding five lines, each additional column line is priced at $12.
- Column Line Definition: A column line consists of approximately 20 characters, including letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation.
This structure helps you understand the pricing based on the length of your tribute.
Enhancing Your Obituary: Photos, Emblems, and Online Guest Books
To further personalize your St. Pete Times obituary, consider these options:
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Legacy Online Guest Book: An automatic $30 charge applies to every paid obituary (starting from 6 lines). This includes an online guest book that accompanies the obituary on tampabay.com/obits for 30 days. This guest book allows friends and family to share condolences and memories. Options to extend the guest book duration for a year or permanently are available through Legacy.com.
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Guest Book Features: All entries are moderated for content. There’s no limit to the number of entries, and additions can be made anytime. Photos with captions can be uploaded, and email notifications are sent for each new entry. Links to charitable organizations can also be included. A tag referencing the online guest book is added to the newspaper notice at no extra cost.
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Photos and Emblems: Enhance the visual aspect of the obituary with photos or insignias:
- Photographs: $50 per photo per day, and each photo extends the text by three lines.
- Insignias: Priced based on space used (approximately 3-4 lines deep). These can denote affiliations or service branches.
Below are examples of insignias available from the St. Pete Times:
To provide photos, you can email them as jpeg attachments to [email protected]. Prints can be delivered to a Times regional office or mailed to the Funeral Desk. Contact the obituary desk at 727-893-8518 or toll-free 800-333-7505, ext. 8518 for bureau locations and addresses.
Submitting Your Obituary to the St. Pete Times: Deadlines and How-To
Meeting deadlines is crucial for timely publication. The St. Pete Times obituary deadline is 1 p.m. the day before publication (and 1 p.m. Friday for Sunday or Monday publication). Obituaries submitted directly by families require prepayment.
To submit an obituary, if you are not working with a funeral director, you have these options: CLICK HERE to submit online.
Ensure you include the following information with your submission:
- Your Name, Address, and Phone Number
- Your Relationship to the Deceased
- Name of the Funeral Home or Crematory Handling Arrangements
- Preferred Publication Date
For questions, contact the obituary desk at 727-893-8518 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Other Options: Memorials and Cards of Thanks in St. Pete Times
Besides obituaries, the St. Pete Times also publishes Memorials & Tributes and Cards of Thanks on the obituary page. These are options to:
- Memorials & Tributes: Honor or memorialize loved ones.
- Cards of Thanks: Publicly express gratitude to groups or organizations.
Rates for these notices are $12 per line with a five-line minimum (no free lines). Photos can be added for $50 per day, extending the text by three lines. Emblems and insignias can also be included, charged based on space. Contact the Obituary Desk for more details.
Submitting an obituary or memorial notice to the St. Pete Times is a straightforward process when you have the necessary information and understand the guidelines. This guide aims to simplify the process, allowing you to focus on honoring your loved one’s memory. For any assistance, the St. Pete Times obituary desk is available to help.
