How to Use Providence Journal Obituary Widgets on Your Site

What Are Providence Journal Obituary Widgets?

When a loved one passes, the local newspaper often publishes a tribute that families cherish. The Providence Journal has turned those printed notices into digital obituary widgets that can be embedded on any website. In essence, a widget is a small snippet of code that pulls the latest obituary listings from the Journal’s database and displays them in a tidy, customizable box.

Because the widget updates automatically, you never have to edit the HTML again when a new obituary appears. It’s a low‑maintenance way to keep a community portal, church site, or funeral home page current without constant manual uploads.

Why Choose the Providence Journal’s Widget?

The Journal’s service stands out for three reasons. First, the data source is the paper’s own obituary archive, meaning the information is authoritative and up‑to‑date. Second, the widget offers a few built‑in style options—light, dark, and a neutral palette—so it blends with most site designs. Third, the provider supplies clear documentation and a support email, which is rare for free public‑service widgets.

Many alternatives scrape obituary listings from third‑party sites, which can lead to inaccuracies or broken links. By using the Providence Journal’s native widget, you sidestep those pitfalls and respect the newspaper’s copyright policies.

Step‑by‑Step: Embedding the Widget

Getting the widget onto your site is straightforward. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a live feed of recent obituaries within minutes.

• Locate the widget page. Visit the Providence Journal’s “Obituaries” section and look for a link labeled “Embed Widget” or “Share This Listing.” It’s usually tucked at the bottom of the page.
• Copy the embed code. The page will display a short snippet of HTML—something like <script src="https://www.providencejournal.com/obits/widget.js"></script>. Click “Copy.”
• Paste into your site. Open the HTML editor for the page where you want the widget to appear and paste the code where the box should sit. If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, switch to the “Text” view before pasting.
• Save and preview. After publishing, refresh the page. You should see a list of the latest obituaries, each with a name, date, and a link to the full notice.

If your platform only accepts iframes, the widget also offers an iframe version. Replace the script tag with an iframe tag provided on the same page, and the widget will work the same way.

Customizing the Look and Feel

While the default style is clean and readable, you can tweak a few parameters to match your site’s branding. The widget’s script accepts query strings, such as ?theme=dark&limit=5 to switch to a dark background and show only the five most recent entries.

Here are some common customizations:

• Theme: “light” (default), “dark”, or “neutral.”
• Number of entries: Set limit= to any number between 1 and 20.
• Width: Add a CSS rule to the container div, for example style="max-width:400px;".

For more advanced tweaks—like changing the font or adjusting the spacing—you can target the widget’s internal classes with your own stylesheet. The documentation lists the class names, such as .pj-obit-item and .pj-obit-date.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Even the best‑crafted widgets can hit snags. Below are the most frequent hiccups and quick fixes.

• Widget not loading. Verify that your site allows external scripts. Some corporate firewalls block unknown domains; adding https://www.providencejournal.com to your whitelist usually solves the problem.
• Styling conflicts. If your site’s CSS overrides the widget’s default colors, add !important to the widget’s CSS rules or wrap the widget in a uniquely‑named container and increase specificity.
• Empty list. The widget only displays obituaries that have been published within the last 30 days. If you’re testing after a quiet period, you may see no entries until a new notice is added.
• Performance concerns. The script loads asynchronously, but if you notice a delay, consider placing the embed code at the bottom of the page, just before the closing </body> tag.

Should you encounter an error message from the script itself, copy the exact text and email the support address listed on the widget page. They typically respond within 24 hours.

FAQ

Can I use the widget on a non‑commercial personal blog?

Yes. The Providence Journal offers the widget free of charge for both personal and non‑profit sites. Commercial enterprises are asked to contact the newspaper for a licensing agreement.

Is there a way to filter obituaries by a specific family name?

The standard widget does not support custom filters. However, you can combine the widget with a simple JavaScript function that hides entries not matching a given keyword, though this is a client‑side workaround and may not be perfect.

Do the obituary listings include photos?

Only if the original newspaper notice contains an image. The widget will display the thumbnail if one is available; otherwise it shows a generic placeholder.

What happens to the widget if the Providence Journal changes its website layout?

Because the widget pulls data via an API rather than scraping HTML, most layout changes do not affect its functionality. The Journal does occasionally update the embed code, so it’s wise to revisit the widget page every few months to ensure you’re using the latest snippet.