Jerry and others. If you are looking through newspapers for obits you might
not find any actual obits. Unless they were prominent people it would be
unusual to get a full obit. Most times you have to read what are called
locals for the particular area that people lived in. Sometimes all that is
said is that so and so was called home because someone had passed away. If
you know the death dates you can read through the articles in the paper for
at least a week after the date. Smaller town papers may have only come out
once a week.
Sometimes it is a very tedious search. Sometimes up until mid 1900's.
I only found my great-grandmothers death notice by accident and she died in
1934. No funeral director, no doctor involved, so no death certificate.
Depending on where you live a lot of the newspapers are in state archives on
microfilm. check and you may be able to get them on interlibrary loan.
Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: <Jerrygary(a)aol.com>
To: <MDGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 1:30 PM
Subject: [MDGEN] Death Notices and Obituaries
I have just learned that there is a difference between a Death Notice and an
Obituary. I have always thought they were the same thing. Obviously I was
mistaken.
As I now understand it, a Death Notice is usually a very brief notice of a
person's death, and it is usually placed in the paper by undertaker.
An Obituary, on the other hand, is usually a much more detailed
announcement.
It will usually give details of the person's life, and will usually provide
information about the person's family members.
My question is this: In the late 1800s and early 1900s was it usual or
unusual for a person of modest means to have the type of obituary that is
described
above?
And, if it's likely that I could find an obituary for my immigrant Irish
ancestors, where might I find these obituaries?
I am trying to learn where in Ireland my immigrant ancestors had lived
before
settling in Baltimore. It's been a long search with lots of dead-ends.
Thank you for any information, comments, and/or suggestions.
Jerry Gary
Walnut Creek, CA
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