The Gen Obit site is very helpful..and it can be very rewarding to be a
contributor (I was for a while).
When you have a "mess" in a census, or if you have a family with many
daughters, an obit can clear up who is who...and greatly help in finding the
married names of the sisters of your ancestors. In situations where the
fellow is intestate..or the will was written before the children were
grown..it can be a blessing too. I have seen alot of immigration information
on obits too, that even include the name of the ship the ancestor came
across the ocean on. However, obits should be used with care, as they are
only as good as the folks who wrote them...sometimes under very stressful
conditions a family friend may write it. Sometimes, the family friend has
only a little bit of information, or even none.
By contributing your old obits to the site, you can help others who may be
unfound relatives. In one obit...I have 10 grand children listed..13 great
grandchildren noted, but not listed. The great grandchildren would be close
to my age..but I don't know who they are. Perhaps..someday.I will know.
Barbara in Fairbanks, Alaska; Cosbys in Caistor