FAQs
Obituaries in Massachusetts and other parts of New England can generally be found in the local town or county papers. Many obituaries for Boston and the surrounding area can be found in: Boston Athenaeum. Index of Obituaries in Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800.
How much is an obituary in Worcester Telegram? ›
FAQ. How much does an obituary in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette cost? Placing an obituary in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette starts at $75.90.
Why are some obituaries not published? ›
Obituaries are not required by law , so the deceased's family might have chosen to forego publishing one. Publishing an obituary can be expensive , and the funds may be unavailable. The deceased has few family members or friends , so there might have, unfortunately, been no need for an obituary.
Are death announcements different from obituaries? ›
Death notices are short and to the point—Name, date of death and where/when the services will be held. However, the obituaries highlight the deceased's community involvement, accomplishments, interests and survivor's names of the beloved.
How to find out if someone died in Massachusetts? ›
- search in Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
- search in Department of Public Health.
- search in Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
How do I find a local obituary? ›
Many funeral homes publish obituaries on their websites. These can usually be located with a Google search on the person's name. Local genealogical and historical societies, public libraries, and some newspaper publishers maintain clipping files of obituaries.
Why do newspapers charge so much for obituaries? ›
Why does it cost so much to post an obituary? 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.
How much does it cost to put an obituary in the local newspaper? ›
An average obituary can easily be $200.00-500.00. Costs vary by publication. Newspapers charge by the line and can average $450 for a complete obituary. The average obituary cost begins at $200.00 and increases due to the amount of content, including a photograph and the length of the obituary.
Is the obituary read at funeral? ›
An obituary is written to tell the story of your loved one. These will often be in the funeral program. There will even be a part of the funeral where the obituary will be silently read by everyone in attendance at the funeral. It is something you and your family should be patient with when you are writing it.
How to find out if someone has died? ›
7 ways to find out if someone has died recently
- Confirm with a mutual acquaintance. ...
- Check social media. ...
- Search for an online obituary. ...
- Online death indexes. ...
- Check with their house of worship. ...
- Local courthouse. ...
- Digital archives.
In most cases, obituaries do not include the names or nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws unless they were close to the deceased. Grandchildren are sometimes listed but often numbered instead (…he leaves behind 5 grandchildren).
Is it disrespectful not to have an obituary? ›
You are under no legal obligation to take out a death notice or obituary. Think of the latter as a final gift to your loved one—a celebration of who they were and the legacy they created.
Do you put last names in obituary? ›
The first paragraph of the obituary should include the deceased person's full name, including any nicknames they may have used, their age, date and place of death. Some people choose to include cause of death, but this is optional depending on how much information you would like to share.
Can you hide an obituary? ›
First, there is no legal requirement that an obituary or death notice be published in a newspaper. For official records, see the county clerk where you think the person died. Second, some newspapers charge for or limit the number of obits in the paper. If the family does not want the extra expense, no obit.
How long after a death is a funeral? ›
In the U.S., funerals typically happen within three to seven days after a loved one's death. One week generally gives family and friends time to gather to say goodbye to the decedent. However, these numbers are based on an embalmed or refrigerated decedent.
How do I find relatives of a deceased person? ›
How To Search For and Find Possible Living Relatives – Research...
- Facebook and LinkedIn. ...
- Obituary. ...
- Online Phone Directories. ...
- City Telephone Directories. ...
- PIPL People Search Database. ...
- Google. ...
- Conclusion.
How do you list a deceased wife in an obituary? ›
The order usually goes: current spouse, deceased spouse, and then any other spouses in chronological order. If the individual was not married at the time of their death but had been previously married, it is appropriate (but not necessary) to list their former spouses in the obituary.
Who is typically listed in an obituary? ›
Usually people include names of a spouse, parents, children (with any spouse's names listed in parenthesis), grandchildren and great grandchildren. You may choose to list grandchildren and great grandchildren individually by name, or simply include the number of each.
How are grandchildren listed in obituaries? ›
In most cases, obituaries do not include the names or nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws unless they were close to the deceased. Grandchildren are sometimes listed but often numbered instead (…he leaves behind 5 grandchildren).