🎉 How to Drop the Mic on the Chronicle: Your Guide to San Francisco Obituary Submissions 🎤
Listen up, folks! When a loved one has, well, left the building, you might feel like you're running on fumes. But hey, sending them off with a bang in the San Francisco Chronicle? That’s the real deal. It’s not just a tiny blurb; it’s a tribute, a piece of Bay Area history, and frankly, a whole lot of paperwork and deadlines. So, grab a strong cup of joe—or maybe a nice, chilled chardonnay—because we're gonna break down this whole obituary submission thing like a pro sports highlight reel.
This guide is for paid obituary notices, which are often referred to as 'Life Tributes' or 'In Memory' notices, as opposed to news articles. Think of it as placing an ad, but way more important and less about selling car insurance.
Step 1: 🕵️♀️ Figure Out the Vibe and Get Your Ducks in a Row
Before you even think about clicking submit, you gotta have your essential info locked down. This isn't a choose-your-own-adventure story; there are some non-negotiables.
1.1 The Funeral Home Hook-Up
First things first: Call the funeral home or crematorium. Seriously, they are the MVPs here.
Pro Tip: Many funeral homes in the Bay Area have existing accounts with the Chronicle and can handle the entire submission process for you. This is the path of least resistance and, honestly, the one you should probably take. Confirm all the details with them!
If you’re a total DIY hero and the mortuary isn't handling it, then you're the captain now. But you still need their name and city for verification purposes.
1.2 Gather the Raw Materials
You need the basic facts, or as we call them, the 'Who, What, When, and Where' of the dearly departed's epic run. Get this info typed up—no scribbles on a napkin!
The Content: The actual obituary text. Make it shine! Include name, dates, survivors, memorial details, and their favorite sourdough recipe (okay, maybe skip the recipe).
Verification: Your name, address, phone number, and the name/city of the funeral home. They gotta verify the death, fam.
The Photo (Optional but Recommended): A high-resolution photo (300dpi is the sweet spot; think crystal clear, not potato-quality). Photos take up space and bump up the price, but they make the tribute pop.
Step 2: 💻 Choosing Your Submission Portal (And Your Budget)
You've got the goods, now you gotta figure out where to drop the payload. The Chronicle offers a few ways to submit, but the online portal is the quickest route to getting that proof.
2.1 The Online EZAds Portal
This is the fastest, most streamlined way to go. It’s a self-service system where you can build, proof, and pay for the obituary all in one go. Think of it as building a custom car, but instead of wheels, you're picking a column width.
Layout Selection: You’ll choose a template: 2-column, 4-column, or 6-column. Heads up: The price is based on the length (the number of lines) and the column size. A 2-column starts around $399 (text only, for roughly 80 words), but it goes up as you add content or a photo. The bigger the real estate, the bigger the bill!
The Price Gauge: As you enter your text and mess with the layout, a price will update. Keep an eye on this number; it’s like your personal obituary budgeting assistant.
Digital Bonus: All print obituaries also get a permanent home on the Chronicle's website and Legacy.com, which is a sweet deal for spreading the word far and wide.
2.2 Alternative Submission Routes
If you’re not feeling the online wizardry, you can also go old-school:
Email: Send your perfectly typed notice to their Life Tributes email. They’ll call you back with a price quote, and you’ll pay via credit card over the phone. Expect this to take longer.
Mail: Snail mail to their San Francisco address. Honestly, for the sake of deadlines, this is probably only a good idea if you’re planning way, way ahead.
Step 3: 🗓️ Hit the Deadlines and Pay the Piper
This is where the rubber meets the road. Miss a deadline, and you're waiting another day. And let's be real, you're probably on a tight schedule.
3.1 Deadline Mania
The Chronicle operates on a need-for-speed schedule. Deadlines are typically in the early afternoon for publication the very next day.
Online Submissions (EZAds): Usually, the cut-off is 1:00 PM for the next day's paper.
Email Submissions: Often a little earlier, like Noon, for next-day printing.
Weekend Rush: Sunday's paper is a big one, and the deadline for that is often Saturday afternoon, like 12:00 PM (Noon). Don't sleep on the weekend deadline!
3.2 The Final Checkout
Once you've entered all the info, selected your publish date(s) (remember the "buy two days, get the third free" discount—a true life hack!), and double-checked the proof, it's time to cough up the dough.
Payment: All obituaries must be paid in full before they hit the press.
Proof It Up: Make sure you look at the digital proof super carefully. This is your chance to catch typos or factual errors. Once it runs, that’s it, pal.
Congratulations! You’ve navigated the choppy waters of newspaper submissions. Take a bow. You just made sure your loved one's story is cemented in the San Francisco record books. Mission accomplished!
FAQ Questions and Answers
How to I confirm the San Francisco Chronicle received my submission?
Answer: If you use the online portal, you'll receive a confirmation email. If you submit via email, a representative from the Life Tributes desk will call or email you with a price quote and confirmation.
How much does an obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle cost?
Answer: Prices start at a minimum (around $399 for the smallest text-only option) but are based on length (the number of lines) and size (column width). Adding a photo significantly increases the cost.
How to I get my obituary to run on a Sunday?
Answer: Select Sunday as your desired publish date in the online portal or specify it clearly in your email submission. Be aware that the deadline for Sunday publication is often Saturday at Noon.
How to I include a photo in my loved one's obituary?
Answer: On the online submission portal, you will have an option to upload a digital photo (aim for 300dpi resolution). If submitting by email, attach the photo to the message. Note that a photo will increase the cost.
How to I verify my loved one's death for the submission?
Answer: You must provide your contact information and the name and city of the funeral home or cremation society. The Chronicle uses this information to verify the death before publication.
How to I get a discount for publishing on multiple days?
Answer: The Chronicle generally offers a "buy a second day and get the third day free" deal. You must select the days during the scheduling step of the submission process.
How long will the obituary be available online?
Answer: The digital version of the obituary, which appears on the Chronicle's website and Legacy.com, typically remains online permanently.
How to I make a change after submitting and paying for the obituary?
Answer: You must immediately contact the Life Tributes team via phone. Changes can only be made if the submission is caught before the final production deadline for the chosen day.
How to I find the exact word count for the price I want to pay?
Answer: The price is calculated by the line, not the exact word count, and changes as you type. Use the online self-service portal, where the total cost updates in real-time as you enter text.
How to I submit the obituary if I am not using a funeral home?
Answer: You can still use the online portal or email submission. You must still provide the name and city of the cremation society or other service handling the final disposition for death verification.
