FAQs
Many funeral homes publish obituaries on their websites. These can usually be located with a Google search on the person's name. Local genealogical and historical societies, public libraries, and some newspaper publishers maintain clipping files of obituaries.
Do obituaries list cause of death? ›
The first paragraph of the obituary should include the deceased person's full name, including any nicknames they may have used, their age, date and place of death. Some people choose to include cause of death, but this is optional depending on how much information you would like to share.
Why do I read obituaries? ›
For one, obituaries are stories with a closure unlike the daily news items that are generally interim reports. They are often good stories. One reads about remarkable accomplishments, odd achievements, quirky lives, wild adventures, strange vicissitudes, and forgotten personalities.
How do you find a person who passed away? ›
Read The Paper or Watch The Local News
If you receive a physical newspaper, review the obituaries section to see who recently passed. Searching for someone who died more than 30 days ago? Turn to sites like Google News Archives, US News Archives, or International News Archives.
Is there an app for local obituaries? ›
As funeral homes across America post obituaries to their respective funeral home website, The Obituary App organizes them all into particular cities. Now, a user can look at all the obituaries posted by multiple funeral homes in one place. There are two obituary feeds within The Obituary App.
Why don't obituaries tell how a person died? ›
It depends on the family. Some families publish cause of death so people will not ask them how their loved one died. Some folks feel that information is a private matter and they are respecting the wishes of the deceased.
What not to put in an obituary? ›
When writing an obituary, leave out details that could be used for identity theft, such as the deceased's date and place of birth, middle name, maiden name and mother's maiden name. And don't include the deceased's home address.
Why do some people not do obituaries? ›
Obituaries are not required by law , so the deceased's family might have chosen to forego publishing one. Publishing an obituary can be expensive , and the funds may be unavailable. The deceased has few family members or friends , so there might have, unfortunately, been no need for an obituary.
Is it disrespectful not to have an obituary? ›
Posting an obituary is not a legal requirement and is a sentimental action. Families don't have to publish one if they don't want it or do not have the funds to do so. While you do not have to share a death note or obituary, you must file a death certificate with your state's office.
Why do newspapers charge so much for obituaries? ›
Why does it cost so much to post an obituary? Publishing an obituary in the newspaper is expensive because of the limited space papers have. Newspapers value every inch of each page, so they must charge to use that limited space for an obituary.
It serves as a way to inform the community about the individual's passing and to honor their memory. During a funeral or memorial service, it is common for someone to stand up and read the obituary to the attendees. This reading may be performed by a family member, a close friend, or a designated individual.
How do I find someone who died in California? ›
Two state-level California Death Indexes can be found at Ancestry.com (a database anyone can access from any library branch and Central Library) or FamilySearch.org (a free internet database). California, Death Index, 1905-1939 provides the digitized index page, plus its transcription.
How do I find an obituary for a specific person in FL? ›
Begin by entering the name of the person, the word obituary, and “Florida” into your favorite search engine. If the deceased had a common name, you might need to add additional search terms, such as the name of a family member, the town where they lived, or the date of death.
How do I find obituaries in the US by name for free? ›
Using Online and Print Newspapers to Find Free Obituaries
- Use Legacy.com to Search for a Free Obituary. ...
- Newspaper Archive Sites. ...
- Look for Obituaries in Newspapers at a Public Library. ...
- Ancestry.com and Its (Brief) Free Trial. ...
- MyHeritage Free Trial. ...
- FamilySearch. ...
- The Mormon Church Family History Library. ...
- Mennonite Archives.
What is the largest obituary website? ›
Legacy.com. Search the world's largest obituary database.