Navigating the loss of someone close brings an overwhelming wave of tasks. Among the urgent priorities is publishing a notice that honors their memory while informing the community. For families in the Greater Binghamton region, Press Connects obituaries serve as the standard local record for sharing these final farewells.
Submitting a notice to the Press & Sun-Bulletin requires coordinating details with Legacy.com, which manages the newspaper's obituary desk. Pricing typically starts around fifty dollars, scaling with word count and inclusion of photographs. Deadlines shift depending on whether the notice runs in print or exclusively online, making early planning essential.
Gathering Essential Facts Before You Draft
Writing stalls when key details are missing. Before opening a text editor or using an automated portal, assemble the foundational facts in one place.
- Full legal name, including maiden names, preferred nicknames, and professional titles.
- Exact dates, covering date of birth and date of death, alongside the city where the passing occurred.
- Immediate survivors, listed with correct spellings for spouses, children, siblings, and grandchildren.
- Predeceased family members, noting parents or partners who passed away earlier.
- Service details, including the precise date, time, and street address of the funeral home, church, or memorial gathering.
Double-check birth dates against official documents like a driver's license or birth certificate. Memory often blurs numbers under stress, and correcting errors after publication can be difficult or costly. Additional reporting by Bloomberg explores similar views on the subject.
Structuring the Notice for Clarity
An effective obituary balances narrative warmth with practical instructions. Newspapers and digital platforms follow a familiar structural arc to help readers digest the announcement quickly.
The Opening Announcement
The first sentence carries the heaviest load. It establishes identity, age, hometown, and the date of death. Keep the verb consistent—choose either "died" or "passed away" and stick with it throughout the text.
Margaret Ann Delaney, 82, of Binghamton, New York, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, surrounded by her family.
📖 Related: ZIP Code 19380: Demographics,
The Biographical Sketch
Keep this section focused on what defined your family member's daily life. Mention career milestones, military service, neighborhood involvement, and passions that brought them joy. You don't need to write a full autobiography. Highlighting two or three defining traits paints a sharper picture than listing every address they ever lived at.
Surviving and Predeceased Relatives
List close family members currently living, followed by those who went before them. For modern notices, many families also include lifelong friends, dedicated caregivers, or beloved pets to reflect an authentic inner circle.
Practical Service and Memorial Information
The primary utility of a newspaper notice is letting the community know when and where to gather. State whether services are public or private. If the family requests charitable donations in lieu of flowers, provide the exact name of the organization along with its mailing address or web link.
Step-by-Step Submission Process for Press Connects
Placing a notice through the USA Today Network and its partner network requires specific steps.
- Contact the Obituary Desk: Reach out directly through the Legacy Local Obit Desk portal or call customer service at (800) 917-9207. Lines operate daily between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM Central Time.
- Coordinate via Your Funeral Director: Most local funeral homes in Broome County handle the paperwork and submission directly on behalf of the family, rolling the fee into overall funeral expenses.
- Verify Proofs and Deadlines: Review the text proof carefully for typos in names or service times. Print deadlines for weekend editions often fall late in the week, so prompt submission prevents missed publication dates.
- Confirm Online Integration: Paid notices automatically generate a permanent online guestbook on Legacy.com, allowing friends to share photos and condolences long after the print edition circulates.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Small oversights can cause stress during an already difficult week. Watch out for these pitfalls when finalizing your text.
- Rushing the proofread: Skipping a final check on survivor name spellings or venue addresses leads to awkward corrections.
- Overcomplicating the narrative: Trying to fit an entire lifetime into a standard print block results in dense paragraphs that readers skim. Save long anecdotes for a spoken eulogy or a digital memorial page.
- Forgetting submission cutoffs: Assuming you can submit copy the night before a Sunday print edition often means the notice will miss that cycle entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to place an obituary with Press Connects?
Pricing starts around $50 and varies based on the total word count, number of lines, inclusion of photographs, and whether the notice runs for multiple days in print.
Can I submit an obituary directly without using a funeral home?
Yes. Families can submit notices independently through the online portal managed by Legacy or by emailing the designated Gannett obituary intake team.
How long do obituaries remain active online?
Notices published through the local newspaper network remain online permanently on Legacy.com, serving as a digital archive with an open guestbook for community memories.
What should I do if I need to make a correction after publication?
Contact customer support immediately via email at info@legacy.com or through the customer service phone line to issue a corrected notice for subsequent print runs and digital updates.
