Depending on where the deceased lived or had family ties, you may also consider regional sister publications in the Rio Grande Valley, such as *The Monitor* (serving McAllen and the Upper Valley) or *The Brownsville Herald* (serving the Lower Valley). Many of these publications share digital obituary platforms, allowing you to reach a broader regional audience with a single submission. ## How to Submit an Obituary in Harlingen There are two primary ways to submit an obituary to a Harlingen newspaper: working through a local funeral home or submitting the notice directly to the publication. ### Option 1: Submit Through a Funeral Home Most families find it easiest to let their chosen funeral director handle the submission process. Funeral homes in the Harlingen area—such as Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home, Rudy Garza Funeral Home, or Trinity Funeral Chapel—regularly coordinate with local newspapers.
The funeral home will gather the details from you, format the text to meet the newspaper’s specific style guidelines, and submit it on your behalf. This option minimizes stress during a difficult time and ensures the submission meets all formatting and verification standards. ### Option 2: Submit Directly to the Newspaper If you prefer to handle the submission yourself, or if you are not using a local funeral home, you can contact the *Valley Morning Star* obituaries or classified advertising department directly. You will need to provide the written text, any photos you wish to include, and proof of death (such as a death certificate or a verification letter from the funeral home or crematorium). The newspaper requires this verification to prevent unauthorized submissions. ## Key Information to Prepare
Before submitting the obituary, gather all the necessary details to ensure the notice is complete and accurate. A standard obituary typically includes: * **Biographical Details:** The deceased's full name (including maiden name or nicknames), age, city of residence, date of birth, and date of death. * **Life Summary:** A brief overview of their life, including education, career achievements, military service, hobbies, and community involvement. * **Surviving and Preceded Family:** The names of surviving family members (spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings) and those who passed away before them. * **Service Information:** The dates, times, and locations for visitations, funerals, memorial services, and burial ceremonies. * **Memorial Contributions:** Instructions for flowers or details on preferred charitable organizations for memorial donations. ## Understanding Costs and Deadlines The cost of publishing an obituary in Harlingen newspapers varies based on several factors. Most publications charge by the line, word count, or column inch. Including a photograph—either in black and white or color—will generally increase the publication fee.
Most newspapers offer packages that bundle the print edition notice with a permanent online listing. Be sure to ask about deadlines, as newspapers require submissions to be finalized and paid for at least 24 to 48 hours before the desired publication date. ## Finding and Viewing Published Obituaries Online Once an obituary is published, it is typically hosted on the newspaper's official website and syndicated to national obituary databases like Legacy.com. This allows friends and family members near and far to access the information. To locate a published obituary online, you can:
* **Search by Name:** Use the search bar on the newspaper's obituary page to look up the deceased by their first and last name. * **Filter by Date:** Narrow down your search by selecting the month or year of passing. * **Browse Local Archives:** For older or historical obituaries, you may need to visit the Harlingen Public Library, which maintains local newspaper archives and microfilm records for genealogical research.
