Obituary Database | Boston Public Library (2024)

FAQs

How do I find an obituary for a specific person in MA? ›

Obituaries in Massachusetts and other parts of New England can generally be found in the local town or county papers. Many obituaries for Boston and the surrounding area can be found in: Boston Athenaeum. Index of Obituaries in Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800.

The obituary is a longer, more detailed look at the life of the deceased and the death notice is merely a compilation of relevant facts. The obituary also includes those essential details but it expands on them to provide a more complete look at the deceased's life experiences.

No, obituaries are not legally required, but many choose to include them in their End-of-Life Plan as a part of their estate plan.

Death certificates are public record, so any member of the public can obtain a copy at the city or town clerk's office where the death occurred. Death certificates are created for all cases that our office examines.

Many funeral homes publish obituaries on their websites. These can usually be located with a Google search on the person's name. Local genealogical and historical societies, public libraries, and some newspaper publishers maintain clipping files of obituaries.

What Not to Include in an Obituary. Obituaries should never be written in the first person as they're not a personal tribute. As stated above, avoid including any personal addresses or phone numbers. Also, the cause of death is not necessary, as careers and education are not necessary details to include as well.

Do you have to put a death notice in local paper? ›

You are under no legal obligation to take out a death notice or obituary.

When you are listing a relative, make sure to include their first name, their spouse's first name in brackets and then their last name.

Some may feel that it is too personal or private to share with the public, while others may not have the financial means to pay for its publication. Additionally, some families may prefer to grieve privately and not draw attention to the death.

Why does it cost so much to post an obituary? Publishing an obituary in the newspaper is expensive because of the limited space papers have. Newspapers value every inch of each page, so they must charge to use that limited space for an obituary.

Legacy.com. Search the world's largest obituary database.

The order usually goes: current spouse, deceased spouse, and then any other spouses in chronological order. If the individual was not married at the time of their death but had been previously married, it is appropriate (but not necessary) to list their former spouses in the obituary.

Usually people include names of a spouse, parents, children (with any spouse's names listed in parenthesis), grandchildren and great grandchildren. You may choose to list grandchildren and great grandchildren individually by name, or simply include the number of each.

In most cases, obituaries do not include the names or nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, or in-laws unless they were close to the deceased. Grandchildren are sometimes listed but often numbered instead (…he leaves behind 5 grandchildren).

This reading may be performed by a family member, a close friend, or a designated individual.