If it's more than an announcement of the death, and actually goes into the life of the person, then yes, a couple of column inches is going to run to at least $1,000 in the print edition. There is information that you will put in an obit that a surprising lot of people wouldn't know. I'm sure we all have the experience of going to a celebration of life and learned more about a semi-distance relative or friend of a friend, that we had no idea of before. I think they have a tradition for a reason. It's always a shock to lose a close relative or friend, I hope you are coping as best you can.