Writing Meaningful Obituaries at Roller Cox Funeral Home
Roller Cox Funeral Home has been handling obituaries in the Paris area for a long time. I learned about their process after my uncle passed a few years back, and honestly, the first draft I submitted was rough. They sent it back with gentle notes about dates and surviving family members. It turned out I had the wrong maiden name for one sister and missed a whole branch of cousins. The funeral home actually provides a template, but filling it out well takes more than copying facts from a death certificate. You need to decide what matters enough to include. Not everything belongs in the newspaper version, even if it happened during the person's lifetime. I remember struggling with the birth date for one entry. The Social Security record showed one year, but the family bible had another. The widow insisted on the bible date. I spent twenty minutes on the phone with the funeral director before they accepted it. Here's what I wish someone had told me: the obituary is not a legal document. It's a public tribute. Accuracy matters, but so does respecting what the family wants remembered.
The Practical Process
You start by contacting Roller Cox directly, usually by phone during business hours. They give you a questionnaire that covers basic biographical data, survivor lists, service details, and donation preferences. The form is straightforward, maybe two pages. Most people complete it in about fifteen minutes if they have the information handy. The actual writing takes longer. You draft the biographical paragraph, then the service information, then the closing with donation requests. I usually suggest keeping the main body between 200 and 400 words. Anything longer tends to get trimmed by the newspaper anyway, since local papers charge by the line or by inch. After you submit the draft, the funeral home reviews it for formatting and basic errors. They typically return it within one business day. If there are issues, they call rather than emailing corrections. I found this out the hard way after missing a phone number in my initial submission. The director caught the error before it went to print, which saved me from having to run a correction notice.
What People Get Wrong
The most common mistake I see is including too much biographical detail. People want to mention every achievement, every trip, every job. The newspaper editor will cut it down regardless. Better to submit a concise version and let the funeral home handle the trimming than to have them cut into something meaningful. Another issue is the survivor list. Some families list only immediate family. Others include extended relatives, close friends, even pets. There's no right answer, but I've noticed that omissions cause more problems than additions. A niece left out might reach out later. A wrong title for a spouse causes immediate confusion at the service. The donation request section also trips people up. Some prefer charitable organizations. Others want the funeral home itself mentioned. Roller Cox handles both, but you need to be explicit about your preference. I once submitted a draft requesting donations to an unspecified "charity." The director called to ask which organization. It took another hour to resolve before the obituary could run.
Get the Full Details
Timing and Publication
Standard publication runs within two to three business days of submission. If you need same-day or next-day appearance, call ahead and explain the situation. Roller Cox can accommodate urgent requests, but space in the newspaper depends on the edition cycle. Weekend publications sometimes have different deadlines than weekday editions. The online version through the funeral home's website typically appears within hours of approval. This is useful for sharing with distant relatives who might not see the newspaper version. I recommend providing the online link to family members early in the process. It gives everyone a reference point for service details and donation information.
Cost Considerations
Newspaper publication varies by region and by length. Local papers in the Paris area typically charge between fifty and two hundred dollars for a standard obituary. Longer versions or featured placements cost more. The funeral home can provide current rates, but prices change occasionally. Online publication through Roller Cox is usually included in their basic services package. Some families request additional features like photo galleries or guest books. These extras may involve separate fees. I found it helpful to ask about all available options before making a final decision. The director was straightforward about costs, which prevented surprises later.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest problem I encountered personally involved a surviving spouse's name. The death certificate listed one name, but the family had been using a different version for decades. The obituary initially reflected the certificate. The spouse saw it and was upset. I had to work with the funeral home to correct it before publication, which added a day to the process. Another issue is incomplete service information. Missing the time, location, or officiant creates confusion for attendees. I learned to verify every detail with the family before final submission. The funeral home appreciates the extra confirmation, and it prevents last-minute changes that delay publication.
When Obituaries Fall Short
Sometimes a standard obituary just doesn't capture what matters. I've seen families request special sections or memorial pages when the deceased had an unusual life story or significant community impact. Roller Cox can arrange these, but they require advance planning and additional fees. In those cases, I recommend working closely with the funeral director from the start. Explain what makes the person's story unique. The staff can suggest the best format and placement. It takes more time upfront, but the result is usually worth the extra effort. A well-crafted memorial serves the family and the community better than a generic template. There's also the question of privacy. Some families prefer minimal details for security reasons. Others want full transparency. I've found that the funeral home respects whatever the family decides, but they will gently flag potential concerns. A home address in an obituary, for example, might invite unwanted attention. The director will mention this, but the final call is yours.
