While that may be widespread in some areas, it’s by no means the norm.
And the OP wanted a picture included as well. That is also not the norm when it comes to obits.
My father’s obit was around 100 words, no picture and it ran for three or four days. I think the final cost ended up being ~$20.
I’m not worried about this at all. When I go, it will be in a way that will make the front pages. 
Looking over today’s papers, I see that more than half the obituaries have photos, and that my sister’s obituary is one of the shorter ones. Don’t know what “the norm” is, but photos are common, and so are longer obits.
Just checked with Pacific Newsgroup, who publish both the Vancouver Sun and the Province: the minimum for an obituary is 3 lines at $11 per line plus GST, for one day.
I have no idea what it would cost in any other city daily.