Introduction

The Obituary Section (theobituarysection.com) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

This website is owned and operated by Who Passed On, LLC, based in the United States. References to “we,” “us,” or “our” throughout this policy refer to Who Passed On, LLC. If you have questions about this policy, you may reach us at contact@theobituarysection.com.

Information We Collect

We collect the following information when you use our website:

Account Information. If you create an account or subscribe, we collect your email address through Firebase Authentication. This is used solely to authenticate your identity and manage your subscription status. We store your email address and subscription status (active or inactive) in our database.

Payment Information. If you subscribe to a paid plan, payment is processed entirely by Stripe. We do not collect, see, or store your credit card number, billing address, or any payment card details. Stripe may collect information necessary to process your payment in accordance with Stripe’s own privacy policy. Charges will appear on your statement as “THE OBITUARY SECTION” or, in some cases, under our parent company name, “Who Passed On, LLC.”

Usage Information. We use Google Analytics (via Firebase Analytics) to understand how visitors use our website. This service may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, and time spent on the site. This data is used in aggregate to improve the website and is not used to personally identify you.

Cookies and Advertising. We display advertisements through Google AdSense, which uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this or other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies is governed by Google’s own privacy policy. You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ad Settings (adssettings.google.com) or by visiting aboutads.info/choices.

Search Queries. If you use our obituary search feature, your search queries are sent to our server to retrieve results. We do not permanently log or store individual search queries tied to your identity.

Information We Do Not Collect

We want to be clear about what we do not do. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. We do not collect your name, phone number, or physical address. We do not read, access, or share your payment card details. We do not build advertising profiles based on your obituary viewing activity. We do not send marketing emails unless you have explicitly opted in to receive them.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes: to provide and operate the website and its features; to authenticate your account and manage your subscription access; to process subscription payments through Stripe; to analyze website usage in aggregate and improve our service; to display advertisements through Google AdSense; and to respond to your inquiries or requests sent to our contact email.

Data Retention

Your email address and subscription status are retained in our database for as long as your account is active. If you wish to delete your account and associated data, please contact us at contact@theobituarysection.com and we will process your request within thirty days.

Aggregated analytics data collected through Google Analytics is retained according to Google’s data retention policies.

Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information. Authentication is handled by Firebase, a Google service with industry-standard security practices. Payment processing is handled by Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. Our website is served over HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Services

The Obituary Section uses the following third-party services that may collect information: Firebase Authentication (Google) for account sign-in and management; Stripe for subscription payment processing; Google Analytics (via Firebase) for anonymous website usage analysis; and Google AdSense for displaying advertisements.

Each of these services operates under its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review their respective policies.

Your Choices

You may choose not to create an account. The website is usable without an account, though archive access beyond three days requires a subscription.

You may opt out of personalized advertising through Google’s Ad Settings or through the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt-out page. You may clear or block cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

You may request deletion of your account and personal data by contacting us at contact@theobituarysection.com.

Children’s Privacy

The Obituary Section is a general-audience website and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen. If you believe a child under thirteen has provided us with personal information, please contact us at contact@theobituarysection.com and we will promptly delete it.

International Users

The Obituary Section is based in and primarily serves users in the United States. If you access this website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using this website, you consent to this transfer.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Who Passed On, LLC at contact@theobituarysection.com.