How to Find an Obituary for a Specific Person

An obituary is more than a public record of death; it is a written tribute that honors a person’s life, accomplishments, and relationships. Obituaries are often published in newspapers, online memorials, or funeral home websites, and they serve as a way for family and friends to share memories and inform the community of services.

 

It is important to distinguish an obituary from a death notice. A death notice is usually shorter and focuses on the basic facts of passing, such as the name, age, and service details. An obituary, on the other hand, typically includes a fuller story of the person’s life.

 

Most obituaries contain the following components:

• Full name and commonly known names or nicknames
• Dates of birth and death
• Family details, including parents, spouses, children, and grandchildren
• A brief biography covering career, education, service, or community involvement
• Details about funeral or memorial services
• Information about charitable donations in the individual’s memory

 

Understanding what obituaries usually include is the first step in learning how to find an obituary. Whether you are seeking to reconnect with family history or confirm important details, these records can be invaluable in preserving the story of someone’s life.

 

Contact Families and Friends

One of the simplest and most reliable ways to begin when learning how to find an obituary is to reach out directly to family members or friends of the person who has passed. Loved ones are often the first to know where and when an obituary was published, whether in a local newspaper, on a funeral home website, or shared through social media.

 

When contacting family or friends, try to gather as much information as possible about the individual. Helpful details include their full name, birth and death dates, the city or state where they lived, and the funeral home that may be handling arrangements. The more information you collect, the easier it becomes to narrow your search.

 

In today’s digital world, social media profiles are another valuable tool. Family members may post obituaries, memorial service information, or tributes on platforms like Facebook. Reaching out respectfully through these channels can help guide you to the right source.

 

This personal approach not only helps you find an obituary for a specific person more quickly, but it also provides an opportunity to connect with others who are remembering and honoring that life.

 

Web Search

A simple internet search is often one of the fastest ways to begin if you are wondering how to find an obituary. Entering the person’s full name along with the word “obituary” into a search engine can bring up results from newspapers, funeral homes, and online memorial websites. This approach is especially effective if you also add the city or state where the individual lived, which helps filter out unrelated results.

 

Funeral homes are among the most common publishers of obituaries online. Many maintain dedicated obituary sections on their websites, making it easier for family and friends to access service details and tributes. For example, Robertson County Funeral Home maintains a searchable archive of obituaries, such as the entry for Thomas “Ole Tom” Rawls.

 

It is also worth noting that many people who have participated in our whole body donation program have chosen to mention MERI in their obituaries. Families often include this detail to honor their loved one’s contribution to medical education and research. These mentions not only help others locate obituaries but also highlight the lasting legacy donors leave through their generosity.

 

By combining search tools with attention to funeral home websites, you can often locate the obituary you need in just a few steps.

 

Newspapers

Local newspapers remain one of the most traditional and reliable places to look. If you know the city or town where the person lived or passed away, start by visiting the website of the local newspaper. Many papers maintain searchable online archives of obituaries, often dating back years. Smaller community newspapers are especially valuable, since they frequently publish detailed accounts of residents’ lives and service information.

 

If the obituary is not available through the paper’s free website, paid archives are another option. Services like Newspapers.com, ProQuest, and GenealogyBank provide access to vast collections of newspaper obituaries from across the country. These databases often allow you to filter by name, date, and location, making it easier to locate older or less common records.

 

Exploring newspaper archives is especially helpful if you are asking how to find an old obituary, since many digitized collections go back several decades.. While some services may require a subscription, they provide one of the most comprehensive ways to preserve and access historical obituaries.

 

Obituary Databases

Another effective way to learn how to find an obituary is by using dedicated obituary databases. These are specialized online platforms that collect and organize obituaries from newspapers, funeral homes, and families across the country. By centralizing these records, they make it easier to search for information in one place rather than visiting multiple individual websites.

 

Most obituary databases allow you to search by a person’s full name, date of birth or death, and sometimes even by location. This makes them especially useful when you have only partial information but still want to narrow results quickly. Many also allow you to leave condolences, share memories, or light virtual candles in honor of the deceased.

 

A few widely used examples include:

• Legacy.com: One of the largest obituary databases, with millions of records from newspapers and funeral homes nationwide.
• Tributes.com: Another comprehensive source that lets users search by name, date, or location and offers features for creating online memorials.

These resources are especially helpful if you are trying to find an obituary for a specific person who may have lived in another city or state. With just a few details, obituary databases can connect you to published tributes that might otherwise be hard to locate.

 

Genealogy Websites

Genealogy websites are online platforms that help people trace family history by collecting and organizing historical records, including obituaries. These sites often combine public records, newspaper archives, and user-submitted family trees to create powerful tools for research. For those wondering how to find an obituary free or as part of a larger family history project, genealogy websites can be an excellent resource.

 

A few examples include:

• Ancestry.com: One of the most well-known genealogy websites, offering access to billions of records, including historical obituaries.
• MyHeritage: A global genealogy platform that provides access to digitized obituaries, family trees, and historical documents.
• FamilySearch: A free service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which includes U.S. obituary collections alongside census and vital records.

These sites not only help you learn how to find an obituary free, but also place it in the broader context of family history. By combining obituaries with birth, marriage, and census records, genealogy websites allow you to see how individual stories fit into a larger lineage.

 

Public Libraries and Historical Societies 

When searching offline, public libraries and local historical societies can be invaluable resources. Many libraries maintain archives of local newspapers, some of which are not available online. These collections often include microfilm or bound copies of obituaries that date back decades, providing access to information that may not be digitized.

 

Libraries may also offer assistance from research librarians, who can guide you in using these resources effectively. Some even provide remote lookup services, where staff will search archives on your behalf if you cannot visit in person.

 

Local historical societies often preserve records specific to a community or region. Their collections may include newspapers, funeral home records, church bulletins, or family histories that mention obituaries. These sources are particularly useful if you are asking how to find an old obituary for records that predate modern digital databases.

 

Together, libraries and historical societies keep local history alive and accessible, making them essential partners in the search for personal and family stories.

 

Public Records

Public records are another valuable resource for those searching to find an obituary for a specific person. State and local governments often maintain death records that can include or point toward obituary information. These records are typically managed by county clerks, state vital records offices, or health departments, and they may be accessed in person, by mail, or online, depending on the region.

 

Some states provide searchable online indexes, allowing you to look up death certificates, burial permits, or probate records. While these documents are not obituaries themselves, they often contain key details, such as dates, locations, and family names, that can help you locate where an obituary was published.

 

Local government websites may also offer region-specific obituary resources, especially in areas with strong historical preservation programs. In some regions, archives are housed in courthouses or state libraries, making in-person visits worthwhile if you are researching how to find an old obituary.

 

By combining public records with newspapers, databases, and genealogy websites, you increase your chances of locating the exact information you need while building a more complete picture of your family’s history.

 

Final Considerations on How to Find an Obituary

At MERI, we are committed to supporting families with compassionate resources during life’s most difficult moments. Whether you are trying to learn how to find an obituary or need guidance on honoring a loved one, we are here to help you navigate the process with care and understanding.

 

It is important to remember that searching for an obituary can sometimes take time. If the obituary you are looking for is recent, information is often easier to locate through funeral homes or online databases. However, if you are working to discover how to find an old obituary, you may need to gather additional details about the person’s life, such as birth and death dates, locations, or family connections, before finding the right record.

 

Patience and persistence often make the difference. By combining personal contacts, online resources, newspapers, genealogy sites, and public records, you can increase the chances of locating the tribute you are looking for.

 

We provide not only practical tools such as funeral planning and guidance on how to submit an obituary, but also a compassionate commitment to families. Whatever your needs, we invite you to explore our resources and lean on our support as you honor your loved one’s legacy.