Losing someone is heavy. It's a weight that doesn't really go away, but in a tight-knit place like Ontario County, sharing those stories matters. Most people looking for canandaigua daily messenger obits today aren't just looking for dates and times. You're looking for a connection to a neighbor, a former teacher, or maybe a friend you haven't seen since high school at Canandaigua Academy.
The Daily Messenger has been the "paper of record" for this area since forever. Even though everything is digital now, the way we remember people in the Finger Lakes hasn't changed much. It’s still about the legacy left behind in the gardens, the local shops along Main Street, and the pews of Saint Mary’s.
Where to Find the Latest Canandaigua Daily Messenger Obits Today
Honestly, finding the exact notice you need can be a bit of a hunt if you don't know where the newspaper hosts them now. Most of the recent listings are funneled through Legacy.com, which handles the digital side for the Daily Messenger.
Just this week, the community has said goodbye to several familiar faces. For instance, a memorial service for Mariusz “Mark” Andrzejewski, who passed away unexpectedly on January 6, 2026, is being held today, January 18, at the Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home on North Main Street. It’s a small world here; you might see a gathering afterward at The Lake House on Canandaigua, specifically the Rose Tavern. These details are exactly why people check the obituaries daily—to know where to show up and how to support the family.
Recent Names in the Community
The list of those we've lost recently includes people who shaped our local culture.
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- Benny H. Poole (January 16, 2026)
- Debra A. Carnrite (January 16, 2026)
- Steven T. “So” Oestreich (January 14, 2026)
- Kay Wilder (January 13, 2026)
If you're looking for someone specifically, the Legacy portal for the Daily Messenger is updated almost in real-time. You can filter by date, which is helpful if you’ve been away from your phone or the paper for a few days and need to catch up.
Why Local Obituaries Still Matter in the Digital Age
You might think social media has replaced the traditional obituary. It hasn't. A Facebook post is fleeting. An obituary in the Daily Messenger is a permanent record. It’s something that gets clipped and tucked into bibles or scanned into ancestry databases for grandkids to find fifty years from now.
The Genealogist’s Goldmine
If you’re doing family research, these records are basically a map. The Daily Messenger archives, often found on sites like GenealogyBank or NewsBank, go back nearly 150 years. When you search for canandaigua daily messenger obits today, you’re participating in a long tradition of local record-keeping.
I’ve found that older obits are sometimes the only place you’ll find a woman’s maiden name or the names of siblings who moved out of New York state in the 1940s. Pro tip: if you’re looking for a female relative from a long time ago, try searching by her husband’s name (like “Mrs. John Smith”) because that’s just how they did things back then. Kinda frustrating, but that’s history for you.
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How to Place an Obituary Yourself
If you’re the one who has to write and place the notice, it’s a lot to handle. Usually, the funeral home helps with this. In Canandaigua, we have long-standing pillars like:
- Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home (North Main St.)
- Fuller Funeral Home (Buffalo St.)
They usually have a direct line to the Daily Messenger’s advertising department. If you’re doing it yourself, be ready for the cost. Prices usually start around $132.83 and go up based on how long the story is and if you include a photo.
Don't skip the photo. Seriously. People recognize faces more than names sometimes, especially if it’s a neighbor you haven't seen in a decade.
What to Include (And What to Skip)
Keep it real. Mention the person’s quirks. Did they love fishing on Canandaigua Lake? Were they obsessed with the Buffalo Bills? That’s what people remember.
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- The Essentials: Full name, age, date of passing, and service details.
- The Survivors: Spouse, kids, and grandkids (check the spellings twice, trust me).
- The "In Lieu of Flowers": If they loved animals, suggest the Ontario County Humane Society.
Dealing with the Paywall and Archives
Let’s be real for a second. Sometimes the newspaper sites make you jump through hoops to read the full text. If you hit a paywall on the Daily Messenger site (mpnnow.com), your best bet is often searching the name directly on a search engine or going through the funeral home's website. Most local funeral homes post the full, beautiful tribute for free on their own "Tribute Wall."
For deep research, the Wood Library in Canandaigua is a literal lifesaver. They have local history resources that can help you find things the internet hasn't quite swallowed yet.
Actionable Steps for Today
- To find a service time: Check the Johnson-Kennedy or Fuller Funeral Home websites directly for the most immediate updates on weekend services.
- To search the 2026 archives: Use the Daily Messenger’s Legacy.com portal and sort by "Newest" to see everyone from the past two weeks.
- To leave a condolence: Use the online guestbook attached to the digital obituary. It stays there permanently, and families often go back and read them months later when things have calmed down.
- To donate: If you see a request for memorial contributions, such as to the Ontario County Humane Society, you can usually find the link directly within the obituary text on the Daily Messenger's site.
Life moves fast in the Finger Lakes, but taking ten minutes to read the canandaigua daily messenger obits today is how we keep the community feeling like a community. It’s a way of saying "I see you" to the families left behind.