Printed Obituary or Online Memorial? Here's the Truth About What Families Really Want in 2025

By Dr. Mario Dickens, President, Mario Dickens Creations

When you're dealing with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you want is to stress about how to properly honor their memory. Yet here you are, faced with a choice that didn't exist a generation ago: should you go with a traditional printed obituary, create an online memorial, or somehow do both?

The funeral industry has transformed dramatically, and families today have more options than ever before. But with choice comes confusion. What do families actually prefer in 2025? At Mario Dickens Creations, we've dug into the research, talked to families, and analyzed industry trends to give you the real answer.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Digital is Winning

Let's start with the hard facts. Nearly 40% of Americans are now interested in creating or having loved ones create a digital memorial page. That's a massive shift from even five years ago. Google searches for "obituaries" have exploded by 200% over the past five years, and when people visit newspaper websites, the obituary section gets 39% of all clicks – more than news content and nearly five times more than sports.

Meanwhile, traditional print obituaries are experiencing what industry insiders call "steep declines." Classified volumes drop every year, and many experts believe print death notices will eventually become obsolete from a circulation standpoint.

But here's what's interesting: this isn't just about technology taking over. It's about families wanting something more meaningful, more lasting, and frankly, more affordable.

What Families Really Value in 2025

Through surveys and industry research, Mario Dickens Creations has identified the key things families prioritize when memorializing their loved ones:

Lasting Legacy: A whopping 73% of Americans feel it's important that future generations can easily access and learn about their life and memories. Over 40% love the idea of a "digital time capsule" containing photos, videos, and messages that can be opened by loved ones later. Traditional newspaper obituaries, once they're published, become archived and essentially forgotten. Online memorials live forever.

Rich Storytelling: Families want to share the full story, not just the basic facts. Online obituaries allow for detailed narratives, multiple photos, videos, and even audio recordings. Compare that to a newspaper obituary's typical 200-word limit with a single photo, and you can see why families are gravitating toward digital options.

Community Participation: 45% of people are now comfortable with livestreamed funerals, showing how open we've become to virtual participation. Online memorials take this further by allowing friends and family from around the world to share memories, photos, and condolences on an ongoing basis.

Immediate and Wide Reach: When someone passes away, families want to notify everyone quickly. Online obituaries can be published instantly and shared across social media, email, and messaging platforms. Newspaper obituaries require advance planning and have limited geographic reach.

The Cost Reality Nobody Talks About

Here's something funeral homes don't always mention upfront: the cost difference between print and digital obituaries is substantial. A basic newspaper obituary typically runs $200-$800 depending on length and the publication's circulation. Want to add extra photos or extend the word count? Those fees add up quickly.

Online obituaries through platforms like Legacy.com, Ever Loved, or Tributes.com generally cost $50-$150 for feature-rich options that include unlimited photos, videos, guestbook functionality, and permanent hosting. Some funeral homes include basic online obituaries as part of their service packages.

For families already dealing with significant funeral expenses, this cost difference matters. You get more features, more personalization, and broader reach for less money.

Why Print Still Has Its Place

Before you write off printed obituaries entirely, understand that they still serve important purposes for many families:

Local Community Connection: Newspaper obituaries effectively reach local community members who might not be connected through social media or email. For families with deep community ties, this local notification remains valuable.

Traditional Expectations: Older family members often expect to see a printed obituary. It's what they're familiar with, and it provides a sense of proper protocol being followed.

Physical Keepsakes: Some families appreciate having a physical newspaper clipping to keep or frame. There's something tangible and permanent about holding a piece of paper that feels different from a digital file.

Official Record: Newspaper obituaries serve as official public records that researchers, genealogists, and historians can reference decades later.

The Hybrid Approach Most Families Choose

Here's what we're seeing at Mario Dickens Creations in 2025: smart families aren't choosing between print and digital – they're doing both strategically. They'll publish a brief death notice in the local newspaper to satisfy traditional expectations and notify the immediate community, then create a comprehensive online memorial for extended storytelling and ongoing engagement.

Many of our clients at Mario Dickens Creations request printed funeral programs that include QR codes linking directly to online memorial pages. This bridges the gap perfectly between tradition and technology, giving attendees an immediate way to access and contribute to the digital memorial.

This hybrid approach acknowledges that different people grieve and remember differently. Your grandmother might want to clip the newspaper obituary, while your niece across the country wants to upload photos and share memories online.

Platform Options That Families Love

If you're leaning toward digital, you have excellent options beyond just funeral home websites:

Legacy.com remains the most popular, offering permanent memorials with guestbooks, photo galleries, and tribute videos. They partner with most newspapers, so your online obituary can also appear in print.

Ever Loved provides beautiful, customizable memorial websites with ongoing functionality for sharing memories and organizing memorial events.

Facebook Memorialized Profiles transform existing profiles into permanent memorial spaces where friends continue sharing tributes and memories.

Funeral Home Websites often include obituary hosting as part of their service packages, though functionality varies significantly between providers.

Making the Right Choice for Your Family

Consider these factors when deciding between print, digital, or hybrid approaches:

Geographic Spread: If family and friends are scattered globally, digital makes sense. If everyone's local, print might suffice.

Tech Comfort Level: Consider the comfort level of key family members who'll want to view and contribute to the memorial.

Budget Constraints: Online obituaries offer more value for less money, but newspaper obituaries might be worth the extra cost for community connection.

Long-term Goals: Do you want something temporary to announce the death, or a lasting memorial that grows over time?

Family Traditions: Some families have strong traditions around newspaper obituaries that shouldn't be dismissed lightly.

The Professional Touch Makes the Difference

Regardless of which option you choose, quality matters enormously. A poorly written obituary or low-quality memorial design reflects poorly on your loved one's memory. At Mario Dickens Creations, we understand the pressure families face during these difficult times, which is why professional guidance makes such a difference.

At Mario Dickens Creations, we've helped hundreds of families navigate these decisions. We can create beautiful printed funeral programs, design digital memorial graphics, or develop comprehensive memorial packages that honor your loved one appropriately across all platforms.

Looking Forward

The trend toward digital memorials will only accelerate, but traditional elements aren't disappearing entirely. The families making the best decisions in 2025 are those who understand they don't have to choose just one approach.

Your loved one deserves a memorial that reaches everyone who cared about them, tells their full story, and creates a lasting legacy for future generations. Whether that's achieved through print, digital, or a combination of both depends on your specific family's needs and values.

Take the time to consider what would truly honor your loved one's memory. The right choice is the one that brings comfort to your family and ensures their legacy lives on in the way they would have wanted.

If you need guidance creating memorial materials that truly honor your loved one, our team at Mario Dickens Creations is here to help. We understand how important it is to get this right, and your satisfaction is guaranteed.