9 Ways to Effectively Find Obituaries in Online Newspapers

Obituaries are some of the most sought-after articles that are published in old newspapers. They can be found in a multitude of ways. If you are searching newspapers online, there are several methods to get you to the obituary faster and more effectively. There are thousands of indexes to newspaper obituaries that have been created by libraries, genealogical societies, and volunteers in a multitude of organizations and websites. Online search engines are valuable, especially since most obituaries in the past two decades appear on obituary and tribute websites only.

Here is a summary of 9 different ways to get to that elusive obituary and the information written in it:

Use Keywords in Your Search Criteria that are Frequently used in Obituaries:

• Beloved
• Dear
• Loving
• Passed away
• Survived by
• Died
• Funeral
• In lieu of flowers
• Native of
• Devoted

Continue Searching After Finding the First Obit

Sometimes they are amended after the first publication, especially in cases of multiple marriages. Often step-children are omitted (accidentally, or on purpose).

Obituaries in the Last 20 Years

It can be found generally online, so use your favorite search engine.

They Might Have Died Far From Home

So search both locations.

If You are Looking through Online Indexes

Understand that a Death Index is not an Obituary Index. Death Indexes do not (usually) have the newspaper title & date. The death date is not the date of the obituary article in the newspaper.

Use Smart Browse Techniques

Recognize that the Vital Statistics sections of many old newspapers were on the same page. So when browsing from day to day after the known death date, just go to the same page number from issue to issue.

Check Papers in Places They Lived Before

Obituaries are sometimes copied in other locations.

Use Obituary Indexes from Libraries and Societies

Find your ancestor in these indexes and then (Hopefully if the newspaper title and date are online) go to the issue and then to the Obituary section to get the obit.

Make sure that you visit the Obituaries Page on The Ancestor Hunt website

Download the Quicksheet PDF

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