A guide for families
How to place an obituary in the Santa Cruz Sentinel
Create a Santa Cruz Sentinel obituary online. Choose a photo, write a remembrance, select print dates and review your notice before submitting.
Sometimes a photograph brings the words closer: a familiar smile, an expression across the dinner table, a face friends would know anywhere. Paired with a few honest memories, it can help an obituary feel like the person it honors.
For a life connected to Santa Cruz County, the Sentinel offers a local place to share that remembrance. This guide walks you through creating the notice yourself, with extra attention to choosing the image and reviewing the finished layout.
Start a Sentinel obituaryChoose your photograph
- Santa Cruz County
- Remember a life through its family, friendships and local connections.
- Since 1856
- The Sentinel's Santa Cruz newspaper roots reach back to the Pacific Sentinel.
- See the preview
- Check how the words and photograph appear together before submitting.
Photo and wordingOrder onlineThe Sentinel's storyQuestions
A recognizable face. A few unmistakable details.
Choosing a photograph
Pick an image the family feels represents your loved one. A recent portrait can work well, but an older photograph may be more meaningful if it shows the person as friends remember them.
- Use the clearest original file you have, rather than a screenshot of a small image.
- Look for even lighting and a face that remains clear at a small size.
- Allow space around the face so cropping does not cut off important details.
- Review the uploaded image in the notice preview before approving it.
Let a memory guide the wording
Ask what the photograph makes you remember. Perhaps it is the laugh, the Saturday routine, a passion for music or the care they took with others. Use that memory to move beyond a list of dates and accomplishments.
A local connection can be simple: a school, a workplace, a neighborhood or an organization that was part of their everyday life.
Write out the full name and check birth and death dates, family names and any service information. If relatives have contributed different memories, choose the ones that fit together rather than trying to include every sentence. The goal is a tribute readers can follow and recognize.
Place a Santa Cruz Sentinel obituary in four steps
- 01
Start with the notice type
Open the type and publication selection screen. Select Place an Obituary and Santa Cruz Sentinel, then review the package information before continuing.
- 02
Compose and preview
Enter the requested details and your obituary text. Add the selected photograph if your package supports one. Inspect the layout for spelling, cropping, unexpected spaces and extra blank lines.
- 03
Choose your print dates
The listed Sentinel schedule is daily. Select available dates in the calendar and consult the current publication deadlines. An upcoming service may require an earlier placement than the day of the gathering.
- 04
Review and place the order
Check the complete proof, publication selection, dates and total. Finish checkout to submit the obituary, then review the confirmation email and order status under Orders.
Part of Santa Cruz's newspaper record for generations
The Sentinel's Santa Cruz history reaches back to the Pacific Sentinel in 1856. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History's research guide documents that newspaper lineage, while Santa Cruz Public Libraries maintains a historical index that includes both the Pacific Sentinel and Santa Cruz Sentinel.
For families with connections across Santa Cruz County, an obituary places a personal story alongside the community's continuing record. It can help former neighbors, classmates and friends learn of a loss, even when they are outside the family's immediate circle.
Historical sources: Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History's newspaper reference guide and Santa Cruz Public Libraries' Historical Newspaper Index.
Before submitting your Sentinel notice
How much does a Santa Cruz Sentinel obituary cost?
The price depends on the package, notice size, photographs, publication dates and extras you choose. Review the calculated order total before paying, and check it again after making changes.
What photograph formats can I use?
The notice builder supports common image formats such as JPG and PNG. Use the upload control and confirm the image appears correctly in the preview. If an image does not upload, try another supported format.
Will the photo be printed in color?
Photo printing depends on the publication and selected option. Check the package details when choosing the notice; the color of the image on your screen alone does not confirm how it will print.
Can I take time to choose between photographs?
Yes. While signed in, use Save draft and return through Orders. Before submitting, review the final image and available dates again. Saving your work does not reserve a publication date.
Will the obituary appear online as well?
Online placement depends on the publication and package selected. Review the included features during the ordering process to understand where your notice will appear.
A Santa Cruz life in words and pictures
Create a remembrance that feels like them.
Choose Santa Cruz Sentinel, bring a favorite photograph if you wish, and begin shaping the story you want to share.