Checking the Auburn Citizen obituaries this week isn't just about reading a list of names. It's a heavy habit for many of us in the Finger Lakes. Honestly, when you open that page or scroll through the digital feed, you’re looking for a connection to the community that's often lost in the noise of social media. This week, specifically the second week of January 2026, the local listings are filled with stories of long lives, sudden departures, and deep local roots.
People think these notices are just for the elderly, but that’s wrong. They are snapshots of Auburn's evolving history. From the retired EMCOM employee who made the best meatballs in town to the nurse who delivered hundreds of babies across the Catskills before retiring here, these records show exactly who built this city.
Remembering the Lives Shared in The Citizen Recently
The sheer variety of people we've lost lately is striking. It’s not just a "newspaper thing." It’s a record of the folks you probably saw at Wegmans or sat near at a Maroons game.
Take Sandra Lee "Sandy" Shield, for instance. She was a lifelong resident of the Auburn and King Ferry area who just passed on January 5, 2026. She had just hit a massive milestone—25 years at EMCOM. If you knew Sandy, you knew about her George Jones and Luke Bryan albums, and you definitely knew about her spaghetti. Her calling hours are happening right now, Thursday, January 15, at Farrell’s Funeral Service.
👉 See also: Casey Ramirez: The Small Town Benefactor Who Smuggled 400 Pounds of Cocaine
Then there’s Lorna P. Clark. She lived to be 80 and had this incredible journey from Barbados to England for nursing school, then finally to Auburn Memorial Hospital. She spent 45 years in nursing. Think about that. Forty-five years of caring for people in their worst moments. Her visitation is coming up this Saturday, January 17, at Brew Funeral Home.
Notable Names and Services This Week
We also saw the passing of Thomas C. Donovan, who was 75. Tom was a guy who really knew the water, having owned Owasco Marina. He was a staple at the Utopia Club. His service is also this Saturday at Sacred Heart Church.
- Marguerite E. "Midge" Baier: A 1953 Central High grad who worked at the Dunn and McCarthy Shoe Company.
- Edward E. Galka: Passed away after a tough fight with ALS. He was only 70 and worked for Mustad USA for three decades.
- Elaine B. George: A 1988 Auburn High grad who left us much too soon on January 7.
How to Find the Most Accurate Information
Looking for Auburn Citizen obituaries this week can be kinda frustrating if you don't know where to look. Most people just Google "Auburn obits" and hope for the best, but the data is actually scattered.
✨ Don't miss: Lake Nyos Cameroon 1986: What Really Happened During the Silent Killer’s Release
The Citizen (also known as the Auburn Pub) partners with Legacy.com, which is usually the most up-to-date. But here’s the thing: local funeral homes often post the full details on their own sites before they even hit the paper. If you’re looking for a specific person, you should check the "Big Four" in town: Farrell’s, Brew, Pettigrass, and White Chapel. They usually have the guest books and flower links ready to go before the Sunday edition prints.
Honestly, the digital age has made this easier, but also weirder. You’ve got people leaving condolences on Facebook groups like "Auburn NY Memories," but those aren't the official records. If you need to find out where a service is happening at Sacred Heart or St. Mary’s, stick to the funeral home listings.
Common Misconceptions About Local Death Notices
One thing people get wrong is thinking that every death in Auburn gets an obituary in The Citizen. It doesn't.
🔗 Read more: Why Fox Has a Problem: The Identity Crisis at the Top of Cable News
Obituaries are actually paid advertisements. They can cost hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars depending on the word count and if you want a photo. Because of this, some families choose to do a "death notice" instead—which is just the name and date—or they skip the newspaper entirely and just use social media.
Also, don't assume the date you see the obit is the date the person passed. Usually, there is a 3- to 7-day lag. For example, several names appearing in the January 14 edition actually passed away between January 5 and January 10.
Actionable Steps for Researching Auburn Records
If you are looking for someone or trying to settle an estate, here is how you should actually handle your search:
- Check the Legacy "Auburn" Hub: This aggregates everything from The Citizen and surrounding Cayuga County papers.
- Verify via Funeral Home Sites: If a name is missing from the paper, check Pettigrass or Farrell’s. They keep archives that are sometimes more detailed than the newspaper snippets.
- Search by High School Year: Often, Auburn residents find out about passings through their alumni networks before the official notices go live.
- Use the Cayuga County Clerk's Office: For official records like death certificates (which are different from obituaries), you'll need to go through the health department or the clerk, especially if you're doing genealogy.
Losing members of the community like Phyllis M. Mattie or Wayne Marquart leaves a gap in the local fabric. Whether you're looking to pay your respects at a service this weekend or just keeping up with the news, these records are the most authentic way to stay connected to Auburn's real story.
Next Step: If you are trying to find a specific service time for this weekend, head directly to the Pettigrass or Brew Funeral Home websites, as they currently have the most detailed schedules for the January 17 services.