When someone close to us passes away, one of the first ways we honor their memory is by sharing their story through an obituary. In the Albany, New York region, the Times Union has long been a respected platform for such tributes. But there’s more to these notices than meets the eye. Whether you’re trying to locate a loved one’s obituary or planning to submit one, understanding the ins and outs of Times Union obituaries and death notices can make a difficult time just a little bit easier. This article will give you a comprehensive look into how the process works, why it matters, and how you can navigate it effortlessly.
Introduction to Times Union Obituaries
What Are Times Union Obituaries?
Obituaries in the Times Union serve as formal announcements of a person’s death, often including personal achievements, family details, and information about memorial services. They are usually written by loved ones, funeral homes, or professional obituary writers. These notices go beyond a simple announcement—they are heartfelt narratives that help keep memories alive and give families a chance to share the life story of someone they loved dearly.
Unlike some newspapers that limit their obituaries to mere listings, the Times Union often features in-depth write-ups that serve both informational and emotional purposes. They’re often written in the third person and formatted to include sections such as early life, education, career, personal life, survivors, and service arrangements. This makes the Times Union obituary section not only a place to learn about recent deaths but also a rich archive of personal histories that reflect the heart of a community.
Brief History of the Times Union Newspaper
The Times Union is a daily newspaper serving the Capital Region of New York, including Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and the surrounding areas. It was founded in 1856 and has grown into one of the most prominent regional newspapers in the Northeast. Over time, it has adapted to the digital age with a robust online presence while still maintaining its role as a go-to source for local news, including obituaries.
Throughout the years, Times Union has earned a reputation for journalistic integrity and thorough community coverage. Its obituary section has become a trusted place for locals to stay informed about the passing of friends, neighbors, colleagues, and community leaders.
The Purpose and Importance of Obituaries
Honoring the Deceased
At its core, an obituary is a public expression of grief and remembrance. It offers a way to celebrate someone’s life, highlight their accomplishments, and let the world know they matter. When published in a reputable outlet like the Times Union, an obituary carries an added layer of credibility and respect. It’s an enduring tribute, one that families can look back on for generations.
Many obituaries include touching stories, favorite hobbies, and the little things that made someone special. Whether it’s a grandfather who loved fishing on the Hudson River or a local teacher who inspired generations, these human touches transform a simple death notice into a meaningful remembrance.
Informing the Community
Obituaries play an essential role in keeping the community informed. They notify friends, extended family, and colleagues who may not have been aware of the passing. With society’s increasingly mobile and digital nature, many people rely on the newspaper or its website to keep in touch with their roots and community events.
In addition to basic information like the date and cause of death, obituaries typically include service details, making it easier for community members to attend wakes, funerals, or memorial services and offer support to grieving families.
Preserving Family History
For genealogists, historians, and future generations, obituaries are invaluable records. They provide full names, maiden names, family connections, birth and death dates, and even migration patterns. Published obituaries from the Times Union have helped countless people trace their ancestry or learn more about their heritage.
Some families create scrapbooks or digital archives that include obituary clippings, turning them into treasured keepsakes. As more editions go digital, these records become even more accessible and permanent.
Types of Notices in the Times Union
Standard Obituaries
These are the most common form of death announcements, typically written by the family or funeral home. They often include a summary of the person’s life, major milestones, relatives, and funeral arrangements. They can be a few paragraphs long or more detailed, depending on the family’s wishes and budget.
Standard obituaries in the Times Union usually appear both in print and online. The online version may also include photo galleries, guest books, and links to charitable donations or service livestreams.
Death Notices
Shorter and more formal than standard obituaries, death notices usually include only essential information: name, age, place and date of death, and sometimes funeral service details. These are often written in a factual tone and are used when families prefer to keep the details minimal or are constrained by cost.
Despite their brevity, death notices still play a crucial role in notifying the public and providing a basic record of the passing.
Paid Memorial Tributes
Beyond standard obituaries, the Times Union also allows for paid memorials or tribute ads. These are typically published on anniversaries of death, birthdays, or holidays to remember a loved one. They may include poems, personal messages, and photos.
These tributes offer a space for ongoing remembrance and are particularly popular among families who wish to celebrate someone’s life long after their passing.
How to Access Times Union Obituaries
Online Access via Official Website
The easiest and most efficient way to view obituaries is through the Times Union’s official website. The digital obituary section is updated daily and allows users to search by name, date range, or keyword. Each obituary includes sharing options for social media, the ability to leave comments or tributes, and often a guestbook feature for condolences.
You can find the obituaries section by visiting timesunion.com and navigating to the “Obituaries” link. Some content is free, while more detailed notices or archives may require a subscription.
Archives and Past Editions
Need to find an obituary from years ago? The Times Union maintains archival access through various services, including its own website and third-party databases like Legacy.com and Newspapers.com. These archives go back several decades and are searchable by multiple filters.
This is especially useful for genealogical research, settling estates, or simply reconnecting with old memories.
Mobile Accessibility
In today’s fast-paced world, many users prefer checking obituaries on their phones. Fortunately, the Times Union’s website is mobile-friendly, and they also offer an app with easy navigation to the obituaries section. Whether you’re on the go or sitting at home, staying informed is just a tap away.
Submitting an Obituary to the Times Union
Step-by-Step Submission Process
Submitting an obituary to the Times Union is straightforward, but understanding the process ensures everything is handled smoothly, especially during an emotional time. The first step is deciding who will write and submit the obituary—this is often a family member, a funeral home, or both working together.
Here’s a typical step-by-step guide:
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Draft the Obituary: Start by gathering essential information—full name, age, date and place of birth, date and place of death, names of survivors, significant life accomplishments, and funeral details. Make sure all dates and spellings are correct.
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Choose the Type of Notice: Decide whether it will be a standard obituary, a brief death notice, or a paid tribute. This will affect pricing and layout.
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Contact the Times Union or Use Online Forms: You can visit the Times Union’s official website where they have a dedicated obituary submission page, often managed in partnership with Legacy.com. Alternatively, your funeral home may handle the entire submission on your behalf.
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Select Publication Dates: Obituaries can usually be scheduled for one or more days. Many people choose to publish the day before or the day of the funeral service for maximum visibility.
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Review and Approve the Final Version: Once submitted, you’ll often receive a preview for approval. This ensures there are no errors before it goes live in print or online.
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Make Payment: Most obituary submissions require upfront payment. You can usually pay with a credit card directly on the website or over the phone.
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Receive Confirmation: After payment and approval, the obituary will be queued for publication. You’ll receive confirmation along with links to share.
This step-by-step process allows families to maintain control over what’s said and when it’s published, offering peace of mind during a difficult period.
Cost and Payment Details
Pricing for Times Union obituaries varies depending on length, number of publication days, and additional features like images. On average, a printed obituary can range between $200 to $500, depending on word count and whether it includes a photo. Online listings may be bundled with print, but sometimes they come with separate fees.
Here’s a breakdown of typical pricing factors:
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Length: Most obituaries are priced per line or per word.
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Photos: Adding a photo incurs an additional cost, usually around $50–$100.
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Online Enhancements: Features like guest books, videos, or multiple photos might come with premium charges.
The Times Union allows online payment through secure gateways, and you’ll often receive a detailed invoice. Many funeral homes include obituary costs in their overall service packages and can handle payment directly.
Formatting and Length Guidelines
To ensure consistency and readability, the Times Union follows specific formatting rules. Here are some helpful guidelines to keep in mind:
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Word Count: Obituaries typically range from 100 to 500 words. Longer obits may be truncated or may cost extra.
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Structure:
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Start with the full name, age, and place of residence at the time of death.
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Mention the date and cause of death (optional).
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Include biographical details—birthplace, career, education, marriage, children.
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List surviving and predeceased family members.
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End with funeral or memorial service information, and mention any donation preferences (e.g., “In lieu of flowers…”).
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You can also use a more personal tone, including quotes or anecdotes, especially in longer tributes. However, avoid slang, inside jokes, or sensitive information that could upset others.
Writing an Effective and Memorable Obituary
Capturing a Life Story in Words
Writing an obituary is a deeply emotional task, but also a beautiful opportunity to honor someone’s legacy. Think of it as painting a picture of who they were—not just what they did. Instead of listing achievements in bullet points, turn them into a narrative that flows.
Ask yourself:
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What made them smile?
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What were they passionate about?
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How did they impact others?
Here’s an example of a humanized obituary sentence:
“Mary Jane Thompson, 84, passed peacefully surrounded by family, just as she lived—kindly, courageously, and with the smell of fresh-baked cookies always lingering in the air.”
These little personal touches make all the difference.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Even well-meaning writers make mistakes under stress. Here are common pitfalls to avoid:
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Incorrect Dates or Names: Always double-check facts, especially the spelling of names.
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Too Much Detail: Don’t overload with minor details or overly long lists. Keep it meaningful.
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Missing Service Info: Make sure to include when and where the service will take place, if applicable.
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Overuse of Jargon: Write in clear, simple language. Think about the reader who never met the deceased.
A final proofreading by someone else can help catch overlooked errors or awkward phrasing.
Legacy.com and Times Union Partnership
What Is Legacy.com?
Legacy.com is one of the world’s largest online obituary platforms, partnering with over 1,500 newspapers—including the Times Union. When you submit an obituary to the Times Union, it’s often also published on Legacy.com for extended reach and interactive features.
Legacy.com allows visitors to:
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Leave online condolences.
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Share memories and photos.
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Light virtual candles.
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Send flowers or make charitable donations directly through embedded links.
It’s a beautiful way to extend the memorial experience beyond local borders.
Why This Partnership Matters
This partnership adds immense value, especially for families with relatives living outside the Times Union’s print region. With the growing trend of digital-first obituaries, platforms like Legacy.com help preserve memories in a way that traditional print never could.
Obituaries posted on Legacy.com also tend to rank well in search engines, making it easier for people to locate them even months or years later. This can be a great source of comfort and accessibility for long-distance family members and friends.
Obituaries and Community Connection
Local Heroes, Teachers, and Neighbors Remembered
The Times Union obituary section isn’t just a list of names—it’s a reflection of the local community’s soul. From WWII veterans to beloved school teachers, and local business owners to lifelong volunteers, each obituary adds to the living memory of Albany and the Capital Region.
These tributes serve as mini-biographies, telling the rich story of people who made a difference—whether in big ways or small. They foster a sense of connection and belonging, especially in tight-knit neighborhoods where everyone knows everyone.
Reading Obituaries as a Community Ritual
For many, reading the obituaries is a daily ritual. It’s not morbid; it’s a way to stay connected. It helps people remember the past, offer condolences, and appreciate the fragility of life. Obituaries also serve as moral touchstones—reminding us what truly matters.
It’s also not uncommon for old friends or distant relatives to reconnect after seeing a name in the obits. These stories can spark family reunions, renew bonds, or lead to moments of healing that otherwise wouldn’t happen.
Exploring Times Union Obituary Archives
Why the Archives Matter
The Times Union obituary archives serve as a living history book for the Capital Region and beyond. Every name, every life story, and every tribute offers insight into a time, a place, and the people who shaped it. Whether you’re researching family history, writing a memoir, or simply exploring the past, these archives are an invaluable treasure trove.
Unlike social media posts that may disappear, archived obituaries remain preserved in perpetuity—etched in digital and sometimes printed pages forever. These records are often cited in historical research, genealogy websites, and even legal proceedings. They contain vital information like:
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Full names and maiden names
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Birth and death dates
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Family relationships
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Military service
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Educational and career milestones
For future generations, these stories offer context and continuity—helping them understand their roots and the paths their ancestors walked.
How to Search Effectively
Accessing the Times Union obituary archives is easy once you know where to look. Start by visiting the Obituaries section on timesunion.com, where you’ll often find a link to the full archive hosted in partnership with Legacy.com or historical repositories like Newspapers.com.
Here are some tips for an effective search:
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Use Full Names: If possible, search by full name including middle name or initial.
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Try Multiple Spellings: Common misspellings or nickname variations may yield different results.
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Use Date Filters: Narrow down your search by the date of death or publication.
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Include Keywords: Try adding a hometown, military branch, employer, or even college.
In case you need older obituaries dating back decades, local libraries or historical societies in Albany may have microfilm copies or bound volumes of the Times Union that can be accessed for more in-depth research.
Obituaries in the Digital Age
From Print to Pixels
There was a time when the obituary section of the morning newspaper was the only way to find out who had passed away. Now, thanks to the internet, obituaries are available 24/7 with just a click or tap. The Times Union has fully embraced this digital transformation.
Today’s digital obituaries come with multimedia elements that would’ve been unthinkable 20 years ago. Families can upload:
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Photo slideshows
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Embedded videos
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Personalized music playlists
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QR codes linking to memorial websites
This evolution makes the obituary a far more interactive and memorable experience. It allows people to grieve and celebrate in more personal, meaningful ways—even if they’re halfway across the globe.
Engaging a Broader Audience
Digital obituaries also open the door to a global audience. A family member in Florida, a college friend in California, or an old neighbor now living abroad can read and react to an obituary in real time. They can leave messages, light virtual candles, or share stories—all of which can bring incredible comfort to grieving families.
This broader reach also helps share important service information faster and more efficiently, ensuring no one misses a memorial event because they didn’t get the paper on time.
Moreover, with SEO and search engines indexing content, a Times Union obituary can be discovered for years, even decades to come. That’s something a folded newspaper clipping in a drawer just can’t offer.
Comparing Times Union to Other Regional Obituary Sections
What Sets Times Union Apart
While many newspapers carry obituary sections, Times Union stands out for several reasons. First and foremost is the depth and quality of its tributes. Many local papers run short, templated death announcements. In contrast, Times Union allows room for heartfelt storytelling, photos, and personalized details that really capture who a person was.
Other reasons it excels:
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Local Focus: It emphasizes residents from Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and neighboring counties.
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Strong Legacy.com Integration: Ensures obituaries reach a wider audience.
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User-Friendly Platform: Clean layout and intuitive search options.
In comparison, some newspapers only publish obituaries online or limit content length. Others charge significantly more for similar features. The Times Union finds a balance between accessibility, affordability, and community value.
Why Readers Stay Loyal
There’s a reason why generations of families have trusted Times Union to carry their most sensitive announcements. It’s not just about tradition—it’s about trust. The paper has consistently delivered accurate, respectful, and timely information. And for many, seeing a loved one’s name in the Times Union is a final act of public honor—a fitting tribute in a publication that has been part of their life story.
Genealogy and Family Tree Research Using Obituaries
Obituaries as a Genealogical Tool
If you’re diving into your family’s past, Times Union obituaries can be a goldmine. These write-ups often provide the missing links that genealogy enthusiasts crave—names of relatives, maiden names, military history, and even locations of burial.
Obituaries can connect the dots between census records, birth certificates, and other family documents. They offer clues like:
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Middle names or initials (useful for distinguishing between similar names)
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Sibling names that may not appear elsewhere
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Employment or church affiliations
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Immigration stories
Genealogy sites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch even aggregate obituary data from the Times Union and other papers to help users build accurate family trees.
Organizing and Preserving Records
Once you’ve found relevant obituaries, it’s a good idea to:
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Download or screenshot the full text.
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Save a PDF for archival purposes.
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Add it to a digital family tree or printed scrapbook.
Some people even create private Facebook groups or family websites to share these memories with cousins, grandchildren, and distant relatives.
Times Union obituaries can truly become a cornerstone of family history projects—offering both emotional depth and factual reliability.
Conclusion: More Than Just Notices, They’re Legacies
Times Union obituaries are far more than newspaper listings—they’re heartfelt stories that celebrate life, honor the dead, and connect communities. Whether you’re a grieving family member, a curious genealogist, or simply someone who appreciates human stories, this section of the paper offers real value.
From the initial act of writing and submitting a tribute, to searching through archives years later, obituaries serve a unique and important role. They help us grieve, remember, and keep the flame of memory alive. In a world that moves fast and often forgets, Times Union gives us a place to pause, reflect, and appreciate the lives that touched ours.
So the next time you read through the obituaries, don’t just skim. Savor the stories. Celebrate the people. And maybe, just maybe, write your own life story as though it might one day grace those pages.
FAQs
1. How do I find a specific obituary in the Times Union?
Use the search bar in the Obituaries section on timesunion.com, or visit Legacy.com and search by name, date, or keyword.
2. How much does it cost to publish an obituary in the Times Union?
Prices vary based on length, photos, and publication days. Expect to pay between $200 to $500 for most submissions. Online-only listings may be cheaper.
3. Can I include multiple photos in a Times Union obituary?
Yes, especially for online versions via Legacy.com. You can include photo galleries and even videos for an additional fee.
4. How long are Times Union obituaries available online?
Most remain accessible indefinitely via the website and Legacy.com archives. Some may be moved to a subscription archive after several months.
5. Are Times Union obituaries searchable by date?
Yes. You can filter results by date range when searching the archives on the official site or through partner services.
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