The Des Moines Register Memorials and Obituaries | We Remember (2024)

FAQs

How much does an obituary cost in the Des Moines Register? ›

FAQ. How much does an obituary in The Des Moines Register cost? Placing an obituary in The Des Moines Register starts at $95.00. Package prices can vary depending on the edition of the paper (weekday, weekend, or Sunday editions) and other factors such as the length of the obituary.

The FamilySearch Library has two large alphabetical collections of Iowa obituaries. The original collections are at the Iowa Genealogical Society, where most of the obituaries were collected. These obituaries date from about 1850 to 1991.

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.

Obituaries are important. They provide us with the sad but significant news of people no longer alive who were once part of our communities. As important as they are in the ritual of mourning, they are expensive.

The cost of a newspaper obituary depends on the size of the newspaper's circulation, whether there's a photo, the number of days it will run, and the size of the obituary. Small towns may charge $50, but on average expect to pay at least $250 for the typical short obituary.

Iowa law requires that birth and marriage vital statistics in the custody of the State Archives be 75 years or older and death vital statistics be 50 years or older to be made available to the public.

Are Family Court Records Public in Iowa? Pursuant to Iowa's public record laws, family court records are provided to interested members of the public upon request. This includes Iowa marriage records, divorce records, case records pertaining to child support and alimony hearings, etc.

The State of Iowa calls marriage, birth, and death records Vital Records. You may request certified copies of records by telephone, in-person, online, or through the postal service.

What is the largest obituary website? ›

Legacy.com. Search the world's largest obituary database.

However, in communities where access to media is limited, or in cases where the deceased or their family prefer privacy, an obituary may not be published. Additionally, socio-economic factors can influence whether an obituary is created, as families with fewer resources might not have the means to publish one.

Deciding not to publish an obituary is #perfectlynormal in grief. If publishing an obituary in the paper or online feels (or felt) wrong to you - perhaps drawing unwanted attention or sharing on a level beyond what's comfortable - that's OK. There is no one right way to honor someone you love.

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).

Most newspapers charge by line, so the higher the word count, the higher the price. However, families and loved ones can save money by looking into online options. Publishing an online obituary costs between $50 and $100 and allows for more opportunities to share it through email and social media.

Average Obituary usually ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 See What Affects Pricing for details.

It should be noted that nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws are typically unmentioned unless they were especially close to the deceased. Also, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are usually numbered (“…she leaves behind 7 grandchildren”) instead of listing each person's name.