How can I place an obituary?
Obituaries have a long tradition in Switzerland and are published for private persons as well as public figures. Besides providing information, an obituary honours the deceased. Placing an obituary in a newspaper will reach some people who knew the deceased but might not have been closely related to the family. Besides information about the person, an obituary provides details on the date, time, and place of the funeral or burial and any addresses for sending letters of condolences.
What should I keep in mind when creating an obituary?
When you create an obituary, you must strike a balance between informational content and simplicity. A basic consideration for relatives should be the desired scope of the obituary. The correct medium (meaning, a local or interregional newspaper) can be optimally chosen on this basis. Most newspapers’ websites offer checklists with the most important content for an obituary. The following must be observed:
- Name of the deceased
- Dates of birth and death
- Place of residence, possible place of death
- Date, time, place, and type of funeral/burial
- Mourning family and additional relatives
- Address for sending flowers or garlands, or information about alternative wishes (donations to charities, etc.)
And an offer is frequently made for an individual consultation in person or over the phone.
Find some ideas for obituaries here.
Prices for an obituary
Prices for an obituary cannot be generalised. They vary according to the newspaper and its requirements. Prices are normally based on the ad width (in columns) and the text length (in characters). And the desired placement and any colouring and symbols are also factored in. Specific pricing information can often be found on the internet sites of the newspapers offering the service.
Links to the most important newspapers:
- Neue Zürcher Zeitung
- Ostschweiz (St. Galler Tagblatt, Thurgauer Zeitung, Appenzeller Zeitung u.a.)
- Zentralschweiz (Luzerner, Zuger, Obwaldner/Nidwaldner, Urner Zeitung)
- Todesanzeigen Schweiz