I need to find the obituaries for my aunt and uncle who died l4 years ago in Illinois. How do I start?

Question

This is for an estate search and I don't know the EXACT dates of thier deaths. Just approx. but I know where they were living when they passed away and I know where they are buried.

Answer 1

Check out the newspaper in the area in which they died. It will be very helpful if you know the approximate  death date. Papers keep copies of old issues on file and they will be able to provide you with a copy of the obituary.

Answer 2

should have a date of death on the headstones.

Go to the state library and start reading thru the obits for the general time period they passed. Get a death certificate from the state.

Answer 3

This should help you:

http://www.obituaries.com/Obits.asp

Answer 4

If you know roughly WHERE they died, then you can check local newspapers. You say Illinois, which is a big state. But you also say you know where they are buried, which I would assuem is close to their death place, if not in the same town/city.

Their deaths weren't TOO long ago, so they should have the newspapers archived. I managed to find my grandfather's brother's obituary by contacting local newspapers for where he was known to be living. I didn't know a year, but I managed to find out everything through the local archives.

Good luck!