Finding Buffalo News obits for today isn't just about scanning a list of names anymore. It's about how the community in Western New York stays connected when things get quiet. Honestly, if you've ever sat at a kitchen table in South Buffalo or Amherst with a cup of coffee, you know the routine. You open the paper—or now, the website—to see who has passed. It’s a ritual.
People think obituaries are just for the elderly, but that's a mistake. They are the final records of the steelworkers, teachers, and shop owners who built this city. Today, January 14, 2026, the list of those we've lost includes people who lived through the blizzard of '77 and the resurgence of the Waterfront.
Who We Are Remembering Today
The notices published today reflect a wide cross-section of Buffalo life. For instance, Susan M. Shaw (formerly Devine) of Williamsville passed away recently. Her service is scheduled for this Friday at Saint Gregory the Great. Then there's Russell "Russ" Bauer from Depew, whose visitation is being held at the Paul A. Kloc Blossom Chapels in West Seneca. These aren't just names; they are neighbors.
Warren C. "Skip" Pietz, a West Seneca local born in 1936, also appears in today's records. He was a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church. Looking at these names, you see the geography of the city—from Williamsville to West Seneca—laid out in grief and remembrance.
Jean M. O’Leary, who was 95, had her Mass of Christian Burial today at St. John the Baptist. Her life spanned nearly a century of Buffalo history.
Why the Digital Shift Matters
Most people used to wait for the physical paper to hit the driveway. Now? Everything is instant. If you’re looking for Buffalo News obits for today, you’re likely using Legacy or the News’ own digital portal. It’s faster, sure. But it feels different. You can leave a "Light a Candle" tribute or post a photo of a summer BBQ from 1994.
The Buffalo News has been the primary record-keeper since 1881. That’s a massive amount of history. If you are doing genealogy, you aren't just looking at today’s deaths. You are looking at the Buffalo Daily Courier archives or the historical microfilm at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.
The library is actually a goldmine for this. They have indexes for Buffalo deaths stretching back to 1852. If you can't find a name in the digital archives, the "Fulton History" site or the Western New York Genealogical Society are the places to go. They’ve indexed over 130,000 listings.
🔗 Read more: Iryna Zarutska: What Really Happened on the Charlotte Blue Line
How to Find Specific Buffalo Death Notices
If you need to find someone specific right now, don't just search the main page. Use the filters. You can sort by:
- Funeral Home (like Amigone, Lombardo, or Dengler, Roberts, Perna)
- Location (Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Orchard Park)
- Date of publication
Kinda weirdly, some people only check the Sunday edition. That’s a mistake. While Sunday often has the "full" stories with photos, many families place shorter notices during the week to make sure friends can make it to the wake. If you only check once a week, you'll miss the Tuesday or Wednesday visitation dates.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
Let's be real—running an obit is expensive. Families are increasingly choosing shorter "death notices" over full "obituaries." What's the difference? A death notice is basically a legal notification with the bare facts: name, date, service info. An obituary is the story. It tells you that Grandpa loved the Bills even when they were losing, or that Grandma made the best sponge candy in Erie County.
Because of the costs, some families are moving toward social media. But for the "official" record, the Buffalo News obits for today remains the gold standard. It’s what insurance companies and banks often look for. It’s the "official" word.
Actionable Steps for Finding and Saving Records
If you are looking for a loved one or doing research, here is what you actually need to do:
- Check the Legacy portal first. It’s the official partner for the Buffalo News. It has the guest books where you can actually read what people wrote.
- Use the "Social Security Death Index." If you are looking for someone from a few years ago and can't find the paper record, this is your best bet for a birth/death date verification.
- Visit the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. If the death happened before 1997, the digital search might fail you. The Grosvenor Room at the main library downtown is where the real history lives.
- Set up a Google Alert. If you are waiting for a specific name to appear, use the person's name + "Buffalo News Obituary" as an alert. It saves you from refreshing the page every six hours.
- Save a PDF. Online obituaries can sometimes move behind paywalls or disappear after a few years if the family doesn't pay for "permanent" hosting. If it’s important to you, print it to a PDF immediately.
The landscape of how we mourn in Buffalo is changing, but the need to see those names remains. Whether it's a veteran from Lackawanna or a young mother from North Tonawanda, these records are the heartbeat of the city.
💡 You might also like: Who is Responsible for Redistricting in Texas: What Most People Get Wrong
To get the most accurate information for today, January 14, 2026, go directly to the Buffalo News obituary section or the websites of major local funeral homes like Amigone or Lombardo, as they often post the information before the newspaper's digital edition fully updates.