Scranton Times Obituaries Today Legacy Search Guide
When staying informed about the passing of friends, neighbors, and community members in Northeastern Pennsylvania, finding Scranton Times obituaries today Legacy listings is the fastest, most reliable method. The Times-Tribune (historically known as The Scranton Times) serves as the primary paper of record for Lackawanna County and surrounding areas, partnering with the Legacy.com platform to host daily memorials, service announcements, and interactive guest books.
Whether you need service times for a funeral in Dunmore, want to send sympathy flowers to a family in West Scranton, or are conducting family history research across the Coal Region, this guide walks you through navigating today's obituaries, utilizing online features, and submitting notices.
How to Access Scranton Times Obituaries Today Legacy Notices
Legacy.com hosts the digital obituary directory for The Times-Tribune. While print copies are delivered across Scranton, Carbondale, Clarks Summit, and the Mid-Valley, digital notices update continuously throughout the day as funeral homes finalize details.
To locate today's death notices quickly:
- Visit the Direct Memorial Portal: Navigate directly to the obituary section of The Times-Tribune website or search for the Scranton hub on Legacy.com.
- Filter by Publication Date: Select the “Today” or “Last 24 Hours” filter on the listing page to see newly posted records.
- Search by Name or Location: Enter the individual’s first and last name. If spelling is uncertain, search solely by the last name and narrow the geographic field to Scranton or Lackawanna County.
- Bookmark the Page: If you regularly follow local passings, bookmark the daily Scranton obituary feed for easy one-click access each morning.
Understanding the Publishing Timeline
In most cases, funeral directors submit notices in the late afternoon for publication the following morning. As a result, today's listings typically reflect notices finalized by funeral directors the prior evening. However, during holidays or severe weather in NEPA, service updates or postponements may be appended digitally in real time on the Legacy platform.
Key Features Available on the Legacy Platform
The digital obituary platform provides several interactive tools designed to help friends and community members express condolences without needing to attend services in person.
- Online Guest Books: Visitors can leave permanent messages of condolence, share personal anecdotes, and post family photographs. Most guest books remain open indefinitely, allowing families to revisit heartfelt entries years later.
- Memorial Flowers and Sympathy Gifts: Legacy connects directly with local NEPA florists and gift services, enabling users to send floral sprays, standing baskets, or food baskets directly to funeral homes or private residences.
- Plant a Tree Program: For families requesting conservation-focused memorials in lieu of flowers, the portal allows readers to fund the planting of memorial trees in honor of the deceased.
- Interactive Maps and Calendar Invites: Obituary pages embed direct GPS navigation links for local churches, cemeteries, and funeral parlors throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, alongside calendar reminder downloads for viewing hours and memorial masses.
How to Search Past Scranton Times Obituaries
While locating today's notices is straightforward, searching for older records requires slightly different approaches depending on when the individual passed away.
Recent Archives (Past 1 to 10 Years)
For passings that occurred within the past decade, Legacy's built-in search bar remains the most efficient tool. You can search by entering the decedent's full name and filtering the search range from “All Time” to specific years. Most records published since the mid-2000s include the complete text, photographs, and guest book archives.
Historical and Genealogical Research
If you are researching ancestors who lived in Scranton during the anthracite coal boom or through the 20th century, standard search engines may not yield digital results. In these cases, consult the following local resources:
- Albright Memorial Library (Scranton Public Library): Located on North Washington Avenue, the library maintains an extensive microfilm archive of The Scranton Times dating back to the late 19th century, alongside digitized local newspaper databases.
- Lackawanna Historical Society: Headquartered at the Catlin House, the society preserves regional scrapbooks, cemetery transits, and family genealogies specific to Lackawanna County.
- Digital Newspaper Archives: Subscription services such as Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank frequently index historic issues of The Scranton Times, The Scranton Republican, and The Tribune.
Submitting an Obituary to The Scranton Times-Tribune
If you are responsible for preparing a notice for a loved one, you can coordinate the submission through a funeral provider or submit it directly as a private party.
Working with Local Funeral Directors
Most families find it easiest to let the funeral home handle the submission. Licensed directors across Scranton, Dickson City, Moosic, and the Abingtons work directly with the newspaper's obituary desk every afternoon. They verify required legal data, manage formatting, handle deadlines, and ensure the notice seamlessly populates both the print edition and the online Legacy memorial.
Self-Submission Requirements
If you choose to submit an obituary directly without a funeral home, keep the following procedures in mind:
- Verification of Death: The newspaper requires proof of death before publishing. You will need to provide a death certificate or the contact details of the crematory, medical examiner, or memorial society handling the arrangements.
- Deadlines: Notices generally need to be submitted by early afternoon (typically between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM on weekdays) for placement in the next morning’s print and digital editions. Confirm current deadlines with the editorial desk.
- Cost Calculation: Unlike brief death notices which may be published at a standard flat rate, extended biographical obituaries are charged based on length, line count, and whether a photo is included. Ask for a proof and cost estimate prior to publication.
Writing a Complete Local Obituary: Essential Checklist
To ensure all relatives and community connections are accurately acknowledged, draft your notice using this standard structure:
- Identification: Full legal name, nickname, age, date of passing, and town of residence (e.g., “a lifelong resident of South Scranton”).
- Life Milestones: Education (such as Scranton High, West Scranton, or local universities like Marywood and the University of Scranton), military service, career history, and parish or civic affiliations.
- Surviving and Predeceased Family: Names and locales of spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings, and parents.
- Service Logistics: Clear details outlining calling hours, religious services, and burial arrangements (including whether services are private).
- Memorial Contributions: Designated charities, non-profits, or scholarship funds chosen in memory of the deceased.
By using the combined power of The Times-Tribune reporting and modern digital memorials, readers can pay respect to loved ones quickly and accurately across the entire Scranton metropolitan area.
