Ontario Cemeteries Resources

www.ontarioobits.com

 

Instructions and Guidance on how to use this resourceful website

This project has a database which is updated monthly (or more if necessary).  You will see in the search box the last day the database was updated.  If you're looking for an obituary that was published prior to the day of or before the date 'last updated', use the search box by entering in the data and click 'Find'.  Should you be unsuccessful in finding what you're looking for, click 'Most Recent Indexes' which opens a page of indexes.  You can either scroll the page or use CTRL-F to search for the name you're looking for on that page.

Search Tips: 

• If you're looking for "Bill" also try William; "Jack" try John; "Ed" or "Ted" try Edward... and the same for others.

• Try variations of the surname or name, I won't deny there are typos in some indexes

• Don't want "Hamilton Spectator" when searching for a Hamilton surname?  Try variations of the following Hamilton - "Hamilton Spectator"  (indicates search for Hamilton "-" minus "Hamilton Spectator", but take note that this will still include the city of Hamilton, Ontario

Once you find the index that you'd like to see the obituary for, copy the line into an email message. (Highlight the text and copy and paste it directly into your email.  DO NOT TYPE OUT THE INDEX UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO QUADRUPLE CHECK FOR ACCURACY!)

If the index you are looking for contains *JFLH please visit "Jude's Family & Local History" to obtain that obituary.

Please only request five obituaries at a time. This helps me have time for other things in between requests. Should you be a frequent requester, please contribute obituaries or a donation to the project as it takes time to gather obituaries and send them in requests. 

Note: There are a few out there who use this website as their main source for obituaries. If you are one of these people and do not wish to help with requests, contribute obituaries,  or a donation, your requests will be ignored.  I am here to help researchers with their research, as well as to help make connections, not to do your research for you.

RESPONSE TIME - You can expect a reply to your email request before 7 days. If you have not received a response, please do resend your request.

Can't find the obituary index on this site?  Ask for an obituary request! 

What I need from you:
(1) Full Name (including other surnames - Maiden / Other married names)
(2) Date of Death (YOUR REQUEST MUST INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION OR IT WILL BE DECLINED)
(3) Location of Death (City and County)
(4) Other information (cemetery, family names and locations at time of death, newspaper that would have most likely published the notice, etc.)

If you find a reference to the notice on another site, please include the website address and the reference; this could save a lot of time.

If you 'think' any of the information, please also make this known.  Not knowing that your fourth cousin twice removed, Sue, had a third husband, can make a difference when we're searching for a Sue SMITH where we should have been searching for a Sue JONES. Volunteers who do search for obituaries are generally limited in their time and need to know what to look for. This also applies to a scenario where you have a burial date but not a date of death, or Aunt Betty 'knows for sure' John died on the 22nd of July.  All we ask is just to make us aware so we know what to do.

The cost of requests is free, unless you find yourself frequently in need of this service.

RESPONSE TIME - You can expect a reply to your email request within 7 days. If you have not received a response, please do resend your request.  Should the request need to be posted to the request page you will be notified.  Requests could take a considerable time to get to, so you'll need to be patient.  Obituary requests are kept on this page for a period of 6 months. Those who have requests on this page should check it regularly as notes are added as the notice is searched for.  In case of a misplaced email, this would be the only point of contact. Should you be able to find the obituary before we do, please let me know so I can remove it from the request page.

Should you have any questions or comments or feel something should be added to this instructional page, please let me know by emailing janet.jones@ontarioobits.com. If you have something you'd like to contribute to the project, please get in touch.

Don't have all the information for obtaining the obituary? Follow these steps:
Primarily a date and location is needed.  Please do the following to see if you can find them:

• 1. Go to the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid and try to locate their burial place - looking for date of death

• 2. Visit "Ontario Cemeteries Resources" to see if someone can help you with a cemetery transcription

• 3. You can also visit Ontario Vital Statistics - Deaths to see if the death registration has been transcribed online

• 4. Check the Obituary Daily Times to see if it's been indexed there

• 5. Return and together, we'll try to find an obituary

**** Please try some of the following on your own to try to find the obituary*****

• Email the rootsweb county mailing list (or message board)- if he died in Brant county, kindly see if someone from that county can locate an obituary. 

• Get in touch with the library in the area - usually they are quite helpful

• Contact the publication directly, you might have great success!

• Contact the OGS branch and/or archives in that area.  Generally a small fee will apply, but you'll get it quickly!

• Check with a Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness volunteer to see if s/he can help: http://www.raogk.com/ontario.htm

(Don't forget, if you can't find an obituary in one location, try their place of birth, other areas they lived, and/or areas where very close relatives were.)