Illinois Obituaries

The state history preservation agency allows you to use an online searching feature on the website in order to locate obituaries. To use the lookup tool, you need only enter what you know about the person’s first and last names, the middle initial, a maiden name, and the source in which the file was printed.

The Lemont Public Library provides a very convenient obituary search right on their website. This way, if you need Illinois death records, you can do so right on the site itself. The database can be used with the person’s last name, and (optionally) the year in which the file was published. A list will then be provided on the site stating in which publication it occurred and on what date.

Obituaries are important feature in any newspaper with strong local ties. The Benton Evening News covers news for Benton, Illinois. The obituaries are listed on the site by date, with newest on top. To read the full notice, click on the name. Older obituaries may be found by searching the Evening News’ site.

Finding obituaries easily for personal or research purposes is important for a number of reasons. The Chicago Sun-Times, a major newspaper, publishes paid death notices for residents. These contain biographical and funeral details. The current day’s notices are displayed, and readers may search for older ones by date and name.

The Chicago Tribune publishes national obituaries on the Obituaries main page. To find those of residents, click on the “Today’s Death Notices” link on the right of the page. You will find current obituaries and virtual guest books. You may also search by first and last name to find older notices.

Residents of Flora, Illinois receive complete news coverage from the Clay County Advocate Press. Obituaries, an important component of any local paper, are listed with the most current notices at the top. The main page offers several weeks of notices, and older ones may be found by searching the Advocate Press site.

The Journal-Pilot of Carthage and Hancock County, Illinois, has a history dating back to 1887. Residents find local and community news, including obituaries. The Journal-Pilot lists the day’s current obituaries online, containing details of the life and funeral services of the deceased. Readers may search the archives for older notices.

The Pantagraph enjoys a wide readership in Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, as well as the surrounding communities. Founded in 1837, The Pantograph provides print and online versions. The online obituaries page contains the current day’s death notices, and readers can use the search tool to find older obituaries from The Pantograph.