A guide for families
How to place an obituary in the Press Democrat
Place an obituary in the Press Democrat online. A guide for Santa Rosa and Sonoma County families to writing a tribute, choosing print dates and reviewing cost.
A life can touch many corners of a county: a classroom in Santa Rosa, a workplace, a neighborhood, a circle of friends who stayed close through the years. An obituary helps those connections find one another. It shares the news with care and gives the people who knew your loved one something of their story to hold onto.
You can create your notice yourself through this site. Begin with the details you have, choose the Press Democrat, and work through the wording, proof and publication dates before submitting your order.
Begin a Press Democrat obituaryWhat to prepare
- Sonoma County
- A newspaper rooted in Santa Rosa and the surrounding community.
- Daily editions
- Select from the print dates available in the ordering calendar.
- Since 1897
- The Press Democrat name, with newspaper roots reaching back to 1857.
Place your noticeAbout the paperPrepare your tributeCommon questions
Your notice, from first words to final review
- 01
Choose the notice and newspaper
Open the notice type and publication selection screen. Select the option that fits your needs and choose Press Democrat. Read what is included before continuing, especially if you are considering more than one newspaper.
- 02
Write a life in your own words
Enter the requested details and write or paste your obituary. Add a photograph if your chosen option includes one. Use the preview to see how the name, photograph and paragraphs work together on the page.
- 03
Select the days that matter
Choose available print dates and check the current submission deadlines. If the notice announces a service, allow readers time to make plans. A daily paper still has advance cutoffs; do not assume a weekend notice can wait until the weekend.
- 04
Review the proof and complete checkout
Confirm the spelling, dates, selected newspaper and order total. Complete the checkout steps to submit your notice. Staff review follows submission, and you may be contacted if a detail needs clarification.
Choosing one paper or several
The Press Democrat is the county newspaper; the Petaluma Argus-Courier and Sonoma Index-Tribune offer a more town-focused setting. Think about where your loved one formed their connections. If you select several papers, review each publication and its print dates separately before checkout.
A place in Sonoma County's shared story
The Press Democrat began publishing under its present name in 1897, following the combination of the Evening Press and Sonoma Democrat. Its lineage reaches back to the Sonoma Democrat's launch in 1857. That history ties the newspaper to generations of families in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County.
The Sonoma County Library describes the Press Democrat as the main county newspaper. For a family whose friendships, work and service reach beyond one town, that countywide identity can make it a fitting place for an obituary. The purpose is personal: helping former colleagues, neighbors and friends recognize a name and remember the person behind it.
Newspaper background: Sonoma County's resolution on the Press Democrat and the Sonoma County Library's local history collection.
Gather the facts. Leave room for the person.
The details to check
- Full name, familiar nickname and the dates you want to publish.
- Family names and relationships, checked with someone who knows them well.
- Schools, workplaces, military service or community organizations you wish to mention.
- Confirmed memorial details and any donation preference the family wants to share.
- A clear photograph and a second reader for the final proof.
The detail only you would know
Alongside the milestones, include a moment that sounds like them: the early arrival to set up chairs, the patient explanation, the meal that always made room for one more person.
You do not have to fit an entire life into a notice. One precise memory can tell a reader more than a long list of adjectives.
If different relatives are preparing the obituary and the service announcement, compare the two before submitting. A consistent date, venue name and family spelling can save confusion at a time when everyone has a great deal to manage.
Questions about Press Democrat obituary placement
How much does a Press Democrat obituary cost?
The amount depends on the options and schedule you select. Length, layout, photographs and additional publications can affect the total. Build your notice and review the price shown for your order before completing checkout.
Can I choose a Sunday publication date?
The current schedule offers daily print editions. Choose an available Sunday in the calendar and check its submission cutoff on the Deadlines page. Availability and deadlines determine which dates you can order.
What if we are still arranging a memorial?
Include only arrangements that are confirmed and that the family wishes to make public. You can write a remembrance without announcing a service. If an announcement is important, settle its details before approving the notice.
Is a saved draft a placed obituary?
No. A draft lets you work on a notice, but it is not a submitted order. Review the final proof, selected dates and total, then complete checkout when you are ready to place it.
A life remembered across Sonoma County
Start with the name. Build the tribute from there.
You can take the next step without having every sentence ready. Choose your notice type and Press Democrat to begin creating a remembrance in your own words.