A guide for families
How to place an obituary in the Petaluma Argus Courier
Create a Petaluma Argus-Courier obituary online. Find guidance on writing a local remembrance, preparing a photograph and planning for a Friday print edition.
In Petaluma, a person may be remembered by the shop they kept, the team they coached, the neighbors they looked after or the friends who always found them at the same table. An obituary can bring those parts of a life together, giving people beyond the immediate family a chance to remember and respond.
Start with a few notes and a photograph you love. This site's self-service process lets you choose Petaluma Argus Courier, shape the notice and review the order before you submit it.
The local newspaperFinding the wordsPlan and placeYour questions
The Argus-Courier and a city that remembers
The Petaluma Argus-Courier traces its newspaper history to August 18, 1855, when the Petaluma Weekly Journal and Sonoma County Advertiser first appeared. The Argus and Courier were combined in 1928, bringing the two names together. Its long connection to Petaluma includes reporting on local schools, businesses, sports and everyday community life.
That local focus matters when choosing where to place a remembrance. Think about the readers who knew your loved one through a job, a classroom, a club or a shared stretch of neighborhood. A notice in the community's newspaper can help someone recognize a familiar name even when they are no longer in regular contact with the family.
- Petaluma
- The community at the center of the paper's local coverage.
- Friday
- The current weekly print schedule shown on this placement site.
- Roots in 1855
- A newspaper tradition that predates the combined Argus-Courier name.
Historical background: the newspaper's own account, Argus-Courier celebrates 160 years of chronicling Petaluma's history.
Write the version their neighbors would recognize
A useful starting point is to think of the obituary in three parts: the person, their connections and what readers need to know now. You can write each part separately, then bring them together.
The person and their connections
- Use their full name and, if appropriate, the nickname friends knew.
- Explain their connection to Petaluma: growing up here, raising a family, working locally or making it home later in life.
- Name the work, school, organization or activity that shaped their days.
- Choose one revealing memory, whether it is a generous habit, a favorite saying or a pleasure they returned to.
What the reader needs next
- Include the family relationships you wish to share, with spellings checked.
- Give confirmed details for any public memorial or gathering.
- State a donation preference only when the family has agreed on it.
- Keep one final version so relatives are reviewing the same wording.
A photograph can do some of the storytelling
Choose an image in which the face is clear and the expression feels familiar. If possible, use the original digital file rather than a screenshot. When a photo option is available, check the crop in your proof so important details are not cut off.
Plan for the weekly edition, then place your notice
The Argus-Courier currently appears on Fridays. Start with the edition you would like people to read, and work back from its submission deadline. If you are announcing a gathering, consider whether that Friday leaves enough time for guests to make arrangements.
- 01
Select Petaluma Argus Courier
Begin on the notice type and publication screen. Choose the notice option that fits your plans, then select Petaluma Argus Courier from the publications offered.
- 02
Build and read your proof
Add the requested information, obituary text and photograph if included in your selection. Read the preview as a neighbor would: can you recognize the person, follow the story and find any service details easily?
- 03
Check the Friday and its cutoff
Select an available date in the calendar. Use the current deadline schedule to confirm the cutoff before making plans around that edition. The order calendar shows the dates currently available to you.
- 04
Approve the details and submit
Check the publication, date, proof and price together. Complete checkout when the notice is ready. Saving your writing as a draft does not submit an order for publication.
Planning a Petaluma remembrance
How long should the obituary be?
Long enough to include the details that matter to your family and help readers recognize the person. Begin with the essential facts, add a few meaningful memories, and use the proof and price to decide whether to shorten or expand the notice.
What if the Friday I want is no longer available?
Check the remaining dates offered in the order calendar and choose a date that works for your plans. Do not assume a closed deadline can be extended. If you are announcing an event, make sure the date you select is useful to the people you hope will attend.
Can relatives help without creating several notices?
Ask relatives to send their corrections and memories to one person preparing the obituary. Agree on a single final draft, then check the proof together. This keeps names, dates and service details consistent.
Where can I see the price?
The ordering process shows the total for the notice and schedule you select. Review it before checkout. Different lengths, layouts, photo options or publication choices can change the amount.
Give a familiar name its full story.
A few honest details can bring a person vividly to mind. Choose Petaluma Argus Courier on the next screen and begin the remembrance you want your community to read.