A guide for families
How to place an obituary in The Mercury News
Place an obituary in The Mercury News online. Tell a San Jose or Silicon Valley life story, choose print dates and review your notice before checkout.
A life in Silicon Valley can reach across many circles: family, neighbors, a school, a laboratory, a small business or colleagues who became lifelong friends. An obituary brings those connections together in one place, helping people recognize a familiar name and understand what that person meant to others.
You can prepare your Mercury News notice yourself here. Begin with the publication selection, build the tribute, then review the layout and cost before submitting. This guide will help you turn a collection of milestones into a remembrance with a human voice.
Start a Mercury News obituaryShape the life story
- San Jose & Silicon Valley
- A place to remember family, community and working life.
- Daily publication
- Choose among dates still open in the ordering calendar.
- Review before paying
- See the notice preview and calculated order total.
How to submitShape the life storyAbout the newspaperCommon questions
Your Mercury News placement, step by step
- 01
Choose the notice and newspaper
Open the type and publication selection screen. Choose Place an Obituary and The Mercury News. Review the available package before continuing.
- 02
Write the tribute
Complete the required fields, add your text and include a photograph if your chosen option supports one. Check pasted text for extra blank lines and unintended paragraph breaks.
- 03
Select the print dates
The listed Mercury News print schedule is daily. Use the calendar for available dates and check the current submission deadlines, particularly if the notice announces a gathering.
- 04
Approve and submit
Read the preview carefully, confirm the newspaper and dates, and review the total. Complete checkout, then check the confirmation email and order status under Orders.
Tell the story behind the accomplishments
A professional life may be an important chapter, but it does not have to read like a résumé. Pair an achievement with something it reveals about the person: patience with an apprentice, curiosity that never faded or a habit of giving others credit.
Build a short, meaningful timeline
- Begin with the full name and the dates the family wishes to share.
- Select a few turning points: education, a move, a partnership or work that mattered.
- Name the relationships, interests and everyday joys that gave the life its shape.
- End with confirmed service information or a personal closing thought.
Help different circles recognize them
A former surname, familiar nickname, school or longtime workplace may help an old friend make the connection. Spell out an organization before using its initials. Include only details the family wants published.
Ask someone who knew your loved one outside work to read the draft. Their perspective may supply the small detail that makes the remembrance feel complete.
The Mercury News and a changing valley
The Mercury News traces its beginnings to the San Jose Weekly Visitor in 1851. Today its coverage is closely connected to Silicon Valley and the communities shaped by its growth.
That setting can be meaningful for a notice about someone who built a life in San Jose or the surrounding valley. Think about the people you hope will recognize the name: former classmates, coworkers, neighbors and friends whose contact details your family may no longer have.
Newspaper background: Bay Area News Group’s daily newspaper profiles.
Questions about Mercury News obituaries
How much does a Mercury News obituary cost?
Your price depends on the publication, package, notice size, photos, dates and selected extras. The builder calculates the total as you make choices; review it before payment.
Can I work on the obituary in more than one sitting?
Yes. Sign in and use Save draft before leaving. Reopen it from Orders when you are ready, then recheck the proof and available dates. A draft has not been submitted for publication.
Will the notice be published online?
Read the features of the package you select. Online placement varies by publication and package, so confirm what is included before completing the order.
Should I include every job and award?
Choose the details that best explain the person’s life. Group similar roles together when that makes the story easier to follow, and leave room for family, friendships and personal memories.
A Silicon Valley life, remembered
Make room for the person behind the name.
Start with The Mercury News and the details you know. You can refine the words and review the finished tribute before placing the order.