Losing someone in the Capital Region usually starts with a phone call, but for the rest of the community, it starts with a search. Honestly, the way we track albany ny obituaries today has changed a lot, but the core of it—the actual stories of the people who built this city—remains tucked away in the same few digital and physical corners. Whether you are looking for a childhood friend or a former colleague from the state offices downtown, the process is kind of a mix of old-school tradition and modern clicking.
Where to Actually Find Albany NY Obituaries Today
If you grew up here, you know the Times Union is the heavy hitter. It’s basically the gold standard for Albany County. Most families still prioritize getting a notice in the TU because that’s where the "Legacy" happens—both the website and the actual permanence of it.
But here is the thing: a lot of people don’t realize that "today" can mean different things online. If you check the Times Union website early in the morning, you might see names like Michael Walter Crevier or Nancy Turner Powell appearing as fresh listings for January 12, 2026. Nancy, for instance, was 95 and lived an incredible life, from her legendary bread-and-butter pickles to climbing Mt. Katahdin at 50. That’s the kind of detail you only get if you dig into the full text rather than just scanning the names.
The Funeral Home Factor
Sometimes the newspaper is a day behind. If you need the absolute latest, you've gotta look at the individual funeral home sites. In Albany, a few big names handle the majority of the services.
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- McVeigh Funeral Home: They’ve been around forever on North Allen. They often post notices hours before they hit the major aggregators.
- Levine Memorial Chapel: This is the primary spot if you’re looking for Jewish services in the area.
- New Comer Cremations & Funerals: They handle a massive volume in Colonie and often have the most up-to-date streaming links for services if you can’t make it in person.
- Hans Funeral Home: Located on Western Ave, they recently handled the services for Ian O. Anderson, a 42-year-old who was well-known in the local political science and homeland security circles at UAlbany.
The Stories We’re Seeing Right Now
It’s not just names. It’s the history of Albany. Looking through the obituaries this week, you see the fingerprints of the city everywhere.
Take George Bercharlie, who recently passed at 99. He ran Center TV in Glenmont for over 30 years. People in the comments are literally reminiscing about him coming over to fix their tube TVs back in the day. That’s a slice of Albany history that doesn't make the evening news but defines the neighborhood.
Then there’s Robert A. Gardy Sr., a 93-year-old from Colonie who just passed away on January 11. He was a Korean War vet and a graduate of the Vincentian Institute (VI), a school name that carries a lot of weight for older Albany residents. These notices are basically a map of how the city used to look—the schools that are now apartments and the businesses that defined the 50s and 60s.
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How to Search Effectively
Don't just Google the name and "obituary." You’ll get hit with a dozen spammy "tribute" sites that scrape data and try to sell you overpriced flowers. It’s annoying.
Instead, go directly to the source. If you’re looking for albany ny obituaries today, use the Legacy.com portal specifically for the Times Union. You can filter by "Last 24 Hours." This is crucial because if a death occurred on a Friday, the obituary might not be "published" until Sunday or Monday to coincide with the print run.
Also, check the Daily Gazette if the person lived slightly west toward Schenectady, or the Troy Record if they were across the river. Families often cross-post, but not always.
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Why the "Guest Book" Matters
A lot of people think the guest book is just for "sorry for your loss" messages. It’s actually a goldmine for reconnecting. In the case of Antonio "Tony" Tozzi, who passed recently at 89, the memories being shared go back decades to his time as a building contractor. If you’re looking for a specific person, sometimes the guest book reveals more about their impact on Albany than the formal obituary itself.
Actionable Steps for Finding Someone
If you’re searching for a notice today and coming up empty, follow this sequence:
- Check the Times Union Legacy page and sort by "Newest First."
- Search the name on Facebook. Local Albany community groups often share news of a passing before the formal notice is paid for and published.
- Visit the website of the nearest funeral home to where the person lived (e.g., Applebee in Delmar or Bryce in Troy).
- Look for the "Mass of Christian Burial" mentions if they were part of the local Catholic community, as churches like St. Pius X or All Saints often list upcoming funerals in their weekly bulletins online.
For those planning to attend a service today or tomorrow, most local homes like DeMarco-Stone in Guilderland are holding visiting hours in the late afternoon, typically from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, which is the standard window in the Capital District. Always double-check the weather—Albany winters can turn a 20-minute drive to Colonie into an hour-long ordeal, and service times do occasionally shift due to snow emergencies.
You can also set up a Google Alert for specific names combined with the word "Albany" if you are waiting for a notice that hasn't appeared yet. This saves you from refreshing the page every few hours. Most local obituaries for those who passed over the weekend will be finalized and uploaded by Tuesday morning.