Obituaries serve several purposes. Primarily to inform the public that a death has taken place, to provide basic biographical details, such as family, and affiliations, and to announce where the funeral services may be taking place.

Obituaries are usually published in a newspaper, but may also be read over the radio, in some communities.

The cost of an obituary notice varies widely from publication to publication, and is roughly based on readership.

An obituary in the Globe and Mail will be the most expensive, within Ontario, and can run upwards of $1000 a day. An obituary in a local paper will generally range between $150-$500, per day. A photograph will add another $100 or more.

The cost is calculated by line, and many people will place a simple obituary in the newspaper, and provide a longer and more detailed version online, via the funeral home, or social media.