There are different ways to approach finding California obituaries. Ask yourself the following questions. The answers will determine how you approach the task of searching for an obituary.
- Are you trying to find a current obituary for someone who died in California within the internet era?
- Are you trying to find the obituary for someone who died decades or centuries before – perhaps to fill in gaps in your family tree?
We’ll tell you how to find a current California obituary – followed by how to find an old obituary in California.
How to Find a Current California Obituary
An obituary tells the story of a person’s life, and the deceased’s family often writes it. Before we give you tips on finding obituaries, it’s worth noting that obituaries aren’t legally required. While it is nice to pay homage to a person who dies by writing their life story, some families choose not to complete this task – for a variety of reasons.
Here’s how to find a current obituary for someone who recently died in California.
Step 1: Begin your obituary search by entering the person’s name, the “obituary,” and “California” 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 or town where the deceased lived. Hopefully, your search for a current obituary in California will end with this simple task. However, here are some other ideas if you can’t find the information you seek.
Step 2: Search social media.
When searching for an obituary, look at the deceased’s social media accounts – or those of their family members and friends. Sometimes, people share the obituaries of lost loved ones on their Facebook page, tagging the deceased so their friends can be informed of the death as well as the service information.
It’s worth noting that you might not be able to access this information unless you have an account.
Step 3: Search local funeral homes and newspapers.
Most of the time, if an obituary is available online, you will be able to find it with a Google search. However, if you still fail to see the results you want, consider looking through the websites of local funeral homes or newspapers. Unfortunately, you may have to pay to access content in a local online paper.
How to Find an Old California Obituary
Please note that our goal is to help you find a California obituary – not a death certificate or gravesite. Since obituaries were often printed in the newspaper, accessing historical California newspapers is one way to approach this task. You may also be able to find an old California obituary by searching genealogy websites like Ancestry.
Step 1: Ask your family for information.
Don’t overlook the wide range of resources and information you can find from a family member’s scrapbook or archives (i.e., shoeboxes full of newspaper clippings). If you want to learn more about a deceased ancestor, contact the elder family members.
Step 2: Search through old newspapers.
The Library of Congress’s Chronicling America project participants have digitally archived 20 million newspaper pages from publications across the country. You may be able to find the obituary through this free source. You’ll increase your likelihood of success by adding several specific search terms – including birth and death dates. The more you know about the deceased, the more likely you will find the obituary.
You may also search for historic newspapers through Newspapers, an offshoot of Ancestry.
Although the digital archive of historic newspapers is increasing year by year, you may need to access physical copies of historical newspapers from a state or local historical society or library.
Step 3: Search genealogy sites.
Finding an obituary may be as easy as becoming a member of a genealogy site, such as Ancestry or GenealogyBank. People interested in genealogy often add scans or photographs of significant documents, such as obituaries, to a person’s profile.
Other Resources
If you are still looking for the obituary, consider hiring a researcher who lives and works in the area where the person died. Local researchers understand the resources that are available in their communities. They may be able to access church or funeral home records that aren’t digitally available.
Make things easy for your loved ones by pre-planning for your direct cremation services in California. Contact Smart Cremation to learn about pre-planned cremation services. As a service to the families who choose Smart Cremation, we publish California obituaries on our website.
Key Takeaways About Searching for California Obituaries
- You can typically find current obituaries through a simple online search (if one was written). Most funeral homes and cremation providers publish obituaries on their websites.
- Older obituaries are becoming increasingly easier to find online. Search old newspapers or genealogy sites.
- Consider hiring a genealogy researcher if you can’t find the obituary online.
