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Free Online Obituaries: Submit an Obituary or Search by Name
Posting an obituary on Memorial Merits is free, and there is no fee to keep it online. You write the obituary, add photos and the service time and place, and share the link by email or text. Friends can leave a condolence, send flowers, or plant a tree from the obituary page.
You can post a free online obituary on Memorial Merits by creating a free family account, writing the obituary, and adding a photo and the service details. There is no fee to publish it and no fee to keep it online. Once it is live you get one link to share, and friends can leave condolences right on the page.
- What you can add: Photos, video, the service time and place with a map, and a guest book for condolences.
- Sharing: Invitations and updates go out by email or text from the obituary.
- Flowers and trees: Friends can send flowers or plant a memorial tree in the person’s name from the obituary page.
- Your account: The free family account keeps the obituary tied to you, so you can sign back in later.
- Newspaper notices: You can run a short paid notice in the local paper that gives readers the link to the full obituary here.
Collect donations toward funeral costs on a free memorial page.
An Ever Loved memorial page includes the photo, the obituary, the service time and place, an RSVP count for the funeral home, and a livestream link. You can turn on donations on the same page, so people who want to help pay for the funeral can give without you asking each person. The page is free to make and free to keep. Donations go to the bank account you link, minus the card processing fee: a $100 donation arrives as $96.80. GoFundMe charges the same card fee, asks each donor for a tip, and does not include a memorial page.
1 Add their name and a photo.
2 Add the service time and place.
3 Turn donations on, or leave them off.
4 Share the page link.
Recent Obituaries and Tributes
Search by name, or open an obituary to read it, leave a condolence, send flowers, or plant a tree.
Iryna Zarutska
Passed 8/22/2025
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Obituary For Iryna Zarutska
In Loving Memory of Iryna Zarutska
February 2002 – August 22, 2025
A Light Extinguished Too Soon
It is with profound sadness that we remember Iryna Zarutska, a vibrant 23-year-old woman whose life was tragically cut short in Charlotte, North Carolina. Iryna’s story is one of courage, resilience, and an unwavering spirit that touched everyone who knew her.
A Journey of Hope and Determination
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2002, Iryna fled her war-torn homeland in 2022 alongside her mother, sister, and brother, seeking safety and hope in the United States. She quickly embraced her new life in America and became fluent in English within a very short time. Her remarkable adaptability and determination exemplified the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Finding a home in North Carolina, Iryna embraced life in Charlotte and attended Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. While building her new life, she worked part-time at a local pizzeria and dreamed of pursuing a career as a Veterinary Assistant. Her aspirations reflected her compassionate nature and love for all living creatures.
A Radiant Soul Remembered
Many fondly remember seeing her walking through the neighborhood, always with her radiant smile. Those who knew Iryna describe her as helpful, supportive, and genuinely kind. Her life reflected creativity, resilience, and compassion – qualities that made her a beloved member of her community.
Iryna was building a new life in America when she was tragically taken from us, and was loved by everyone who met her. Her infectious positivity and determination to build a better future despite the hardships she had endured serve as an inspiration to all who knew her story.
A Legacy of Courage
Iryna’s journey from the war-torn streets of Kyiv to the college campuses of Charlotte represents the dreams of countless refugees seeking safety and opportunity. She had endured daily bombing in Ukraine and the agony of not knowing “if you’re going to live or breathe another day,” only to find refuge in Charlotte.
Though her time with us was far too brief, Iryna’s impact on her community was profound. She embodied hope, perseverance, and the belief that tomorrow could be better than today. Her memory serves as a reminder of the preciousness of life and the importance of treating each person with kindness and dignity.
In Remembrance
Iryna Zarutska’s life, though tragically shortened, was filled with purpose, dreams, and an unshakeable belief in the possibility of a brighter future. She leaves behind her loving family who made the difficult journey with her, friends who cherished her radiant spirit, and a community that will forever remember her smile.
Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her and in the countless lives touched by her story of resilience and hope. May her memory be a blessing and a reminder that every life has value, every dream matters, and every act of kindness creates ripples that extend far beyond what we can see.
“Though she was taken from us far too soon, Iryna’s light continues to shine in the memories of all who were blessed to know her. Her courage in the face of adversity and her unwavering optimism for the future will never be forgotten.”
Rest in Peace, Iryna. Your spirit lives on.
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How to Submit an Obituary Online
You submit the obituary through one form. If you already wrote the obituary for the funeral home or the newspaper, you can paste it in.
- Open the submission form. Go to submit an obituary.
- Create a free family account. Enter your first name, last name, email address, and a password. You use this account to sign in later.
- Write or paste the obituary. Include the full name, date of birth, date of death, city, surviving family members, and service details.
- Add a photo and the service details. The service time and place appear on the obituary with a map.
- Share the link. Once the obituary is published, share the link by email or text.
How Much Does an Obituary Cost?
Newspapers charge for obituaries the same way they charge for ads. A local paper can start around $100, and a large national paper such as The New York Times can run several thousand dollars. The bill is built from an insertion fee, a charge for every printed line, an extra charge for a photo at many papers, and a processing fee of roughly 3 to 5 percent. Paid obituary websites charge too: Legacy.com’s online listing is $159.
A free online obituary here has no line count, no photo charge, and no renewal. If you want the newspaper as well, the lowest cost way to do it is a short paid notice with the name, dates, and service time, followed by one line pointing readers to the full obituary online. The funeral home may also post the obituary on its website as part of your package, so ask the funeral home before you pay a newspaper. To check the funeral home charges, see our guide to every fee on the funeral home price list, including the charges you can decline.
Where to Post an Obituary
You have three places to put it: the funeral home’s website, the local newspaper, and a free online obituary like this one. The newspaper reaches people who read the local paper. An online obituary can be found in search and shared by text, and people can add condolences and photos to it. No law requires you to publish an obituary anywhere. Probate is different: many states require the estate to publish a separate legal notice to creditors, which is not an obituary and is covered in our probate guide.
How to Write an Obituary
Start with our ten tips for writing an obituary. If you are also writing the eulogy, read the difference between a eulogy and an obituary, then how to write a eulogy.
