You’re looking for a name. Maybe it’s a neighbor you haven’t seen in a while or a former coworker from the Dover Air Force Base days. You head to the internet, type in delaware state news obituary, and suddenly things feel... different. The logo is different. The website address doesn't say "Delaware State News" anymore.
Honestly, it’s confusing.
If you’ve lived in Kent or Sussex County for more than a few years, you know the Delaware State News as the bedrock of local reporting. But the way we find obituaries in the First State has shifted under our feet. Today, if you want to find a recent passing or look up a memorial from last week, you’re likely going to end up at Bay to Bay News. That’s the digital home for the paper now. It’s not a mistake; it’s just the new reality of how local media functions in 2026.
Why Finding a Delaware State News Obituary Changed
It basically comes down to branding. A few years ago, Independent Newsmedia—the parent company—consolidated its Delaware and Maryland Eastern Shore reporting under the "Bay to Bay News" umbrella. While the physical newspaper often still carries the classic masthead, the digital archive is a different beast.
Searching for a delaware state news obituary requires knowing where the data actually lives.
Currently, the most recent notices, like those for Sandra (Sandy) Mary Nason or Irene S. Hickman (both recorded in early January 2026), are hosted directly on the Bay to Bay News obituary portal. They don't just list a name and a date. They include the full narrative of a life—from where someone went to high school in Wyoming, Delaware, to their years of service at the Country Rest Home in Greenwood.
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The Legacy Connection
Most people don't realize that even if you go to the official newspaper site, you’re often being redirected to Legacy.com. Legacy acts as the massive back-end engine for nearly every local paper in the country.
If you’re looking for someone specifically in Dover, Legacy has a dedicated "Dover Obituaries" page that pulls directly from the Daily State News feed. This is where you’ll find names like Edward Barnes "Barney" Jenks III or Nicholas Anthony Gentile.
It’s a weirdly fragmented system. You have the newspaper's own site, the Legacy.com mirror, and then the social memorial pages like "We Remember."
How to Search Like a Pro (And Avoid the Junk)
Searching for a delaware state news obituary shouldn't be a chore, but Google often throws a lot of "ad-heavy" scrapers at you. You know the ones. They promise a "free" obituary and then ask for a credit card for a "background check."
Don't fall for that.
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- Go straight to the source. Use the Bay to Bay News "Obituaries" tab. It’s updated daily, usually by 10:00 AM.
- Check by County. If you aren't sure of the exact date, Legacy allows you to filter by Kent County or Sussex County. This is vital because a lot of people in Milford or Harrington might be listed in a different regional edition than someone in Dover.
- Use the "We Remember" tool. This is a newer feature often linked to the paper's archives. It’s less about the formal "John Doe passed away on Tuesday" and more about community photos and shared stories.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
The reality of a delaware state news obituary is that they aren't free to publish. If you’re the one tasked with writing one, you’re looking at a process that involves the funeral home or a direct submission through the newspaper’s "Post-an-Obit" tool.
Prices vary based on length and whether you include a photo. Honestly, it can get pricey. Many families are now opting for shorter notices in the print edition of the Delaware State News while putting the long-form, 1,000-word biography on the digital site where there's more "room" for details about a person’s love for the Philadelphia Eagles or their prize-winning scrapple recipe.
Verification is Key
The paper is strict about this. You can't just send in a write-up. Every delaware state news obituary must be verified through a funeral home or a death certificate. It’s a safeguard against "death hoaxes," which, believe it or not, happen more than you’d think in the age of AI-generated content.
Breaking Down the Recent Archive
If you’re looking for names from the end of 2025 or the start of 2026, here is how the recent records are categorized:
Dover and Central Delaware
This remains the busiest hub. Most notices for the capital city are published within 3 to 5 days of the passing. Names like Carl "Melvin" Castell and James Walter Samans recently appeared here, with services typically held at local landmarks like Torbert Funeral Chapel or Pippin Funeral Home.
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The "Downstate" Records
For those in Georgetown, Lewes, or Seaford, the Delaware State News often shares space with the Cape Gazette. However, the official state news feed remains the primary legal record for many families in Sussex.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you are currently trying to locate a specific delaware state news obituary, follow this sequence to save time:
- Check BaytoBayNews.com first. Click the menu icon and select "Obituaries." This is the most "live" version of the data.
- Use the search bar with quotes. Instead of just typing the name, type "First Name Last Name" Delaware State News into your search engine. The quotes force the engine to look for that specific person.
- Check the "E-Edition." If you are a subscriber, looking at the digital replica of the actual printed paper is often easier than navigating the web feed. You can see the obituaries exactly as they appeared on the page, usually located in the back of the first or second section.
- Contact the Dover Office. If a notice is missing, the customer service team at Independent Newsmedia (located on Galaxy Drive in Dover) can verify if a submission was delayed or if it was published under a different regional heading.
The way we remember people in Delaware is changing, but the record itself remains. Whether it's through a digital screen or a newsprint page that leaves ink on your fingers, those stories are still there to be found.
To stay updated on the most recent notices, you can sign up for daily email alerts directly through the Bay to Bay News portal, which will send a digest of the day's delaware state news obituary entries straight to your inbox every morning.