FAQ's
How do I submit an obituary for publication?
If you are working with a local funeral home or crematory, generally they are the ones to submit the obituary on behalf of the family, so be sure to check with them first. If this is for an out-of-town death, body donation or you will be submitting the obituary, then you can submit the obituary online.
REQUIRED: Verification of death MUST be provided in the form of a copy of the death certificate or the funeral home, crematorium or body donation site can EMAIL: ONE SENTENCE - on their letterhead - stating: they handled the arrangements for the deceased and the day and date of death to obits@fortwayne.com. We cannot publish an obituary without either of the above. No other forms of verification are accepted. (Verification is not required when obit is being submitted directly by funeral home or crematorium.)
There are two ways to submit your obituary:
1) The easiest way to place an obituary is by submitting it online at https://placeanobit.fortwayne.com
2) You can place an obituary notice into The Journal Gazette by emailing your information to obits@fortwayne.com. Please include your name, address, phone number, and contact information for the funeral or cremation service that's assisting. You may also contact us at 260-461-8682. We only accept photos via email.
I do not have access to email. Can I submit an obituary notice over the phone?
Because of the very sensitive and personal nature of obituaries, we must receive a written copy of what you want published in the newspaper.
How do I know if a photo is acceptable?
In order to get the very best picture printed please make sure that the photo is cropped, or use the crop tool, to just show the face of your loved one. We accept .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .eps, .tif, .png, and .pdf formats.
Note: We reserve the right to edit or reject photos.
How much do obituaries cost?
Paid obituary notices vary on the length of the notice. To place an obituary online please go to https://placeanobit.fortwayne.com and a price will be given before payment would be required.
How do I pay for an obituary notice online?
If you are representing a funeral home or crematorium, you may apply for a billable status. Otherwise, prepayment is required for obituaries submitted by family members. We accept debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express).
What if I notice an error in my obituary notice after submitting it online?
You may make changes before the deadline by simply logging into your account and making the necessary changes to your obituary notice. If you are paying by credit card and the changes you made either increase or decrease the length of your obit, you will be credited/debited to the correct amount.
Can I work on my notice and save it without submitting it?
Yes, you may input your information for the notice, see how much it will cost and save it for later. You will be prompted to create an account so that you can come back and finalize it.
Is the preview an accurate representation of how the notice will look in the newspaper?
Yes, what you see is what will appear in the newspaper.
How long will my obituary notice stay online?
An obituary placed will stay online, indefinitely.
What if I miss the deadline to submit an obituary notice for the next day’s publication?
Unfortunately, you will need to choose the next available date.
I need to speak with someone urgently about an obituary submission.
Please leave a message at 260-461-8682 between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and a representative will get back to you.
How do I submit an Obituary?
If you are a funeral home or cremation service...
You may submit an obituary or death notice by going to https://placeanobit.fortwayne.com
You will be prompted to set up an account. Once your account is created, you'll submit your information into the template; you can view the price of the obituary in the top right area of the screen. After the notice is complete you will be prompted to complete the transaction by entering your payment method. You may save the notice and come back to it at any time; however, be mindful of the deadline for the publication of your choice.