We list survivors from the immediate family. Some want to add more names, including nieces and nephews, for example. In those cases, families have the option of buying space for customized obituaries. Also, local funeral homes routinely purchase space to note their visitations or funerals. It's their choice to do so.
Several newspapers charge for standard obituaries.
A few have backtracked after being inundated with complaints. We don't intend to make families pay for publication of regular obituaries. In an effort to handle obituaries forthrightly but similarly, we excise information that families might consider imperative. In those cases, families often use the option to purchase space. Heck, Gaines even had time to snap photos of Kelly's family watching the launch.