When someone in Steuben County passes away, there’s usually a specific place people turn to first. It’s been that way for over a hundred years. Honestly, if you grew up around Bath, New York, you probably know the building on West Morris Street. But finding Fagan's Inc. funeral home obituaries online isn't always as straightforward as clicking a single link, especially if you're looking for someone from ten years ago or trying to piece together a family tree.
Most people assume an obituary is just a digital notice. It’s actually a community record.
The Century-Old Roots
James Arthur Fagan started this whole thing back in 1924. Think about that for a second. That's a century of stories. The business moved through four generations of the Fagan family—James, Bernard, James Michael, and Neil. Today, Suzanne Louise Fagan carries that torch.
When you look at Fagan's Inc. funeral home obituaries, you aren't just looking at a list of dates. You’re looking at the social fabric of the Southern Tier. You’ve got names like Kris B. Clark or Francis A. "Franny" Eldridge appearing in the recent 2026 records. These aren't just data points; they're neighbors.
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Where the Records Actually Live
People get frustrated because they Google a name and get a bunch of "pay-to-view" archive sites. Kinda annoying, right? If you want the real deal, you have to know which digital "bucket" the information fell into.
- The Official Website: The primary source is always
fagansfuneralhome.com. This is where the family-authorized version lives. It usually has the guestbook where you can light a virtual candle. - Legacy and Local News: Because Fagan's is the local pillar, their notices almost always syndicate to Legacy.com or the local papers. This is why you'll see "Bath Obituaries" pop up on broader search engines.
- The County Historian: This is the pro tip. If you’re looking for an ancestor from the 1940s, the website won't help you. You need the Steuben County Historian’s office at the Magee House. They keep the physical newspaper clippings that Fagan’s submitted decades ago.
Why Fagan's Inc. Funeral Home Obituaries are Different
In a world of corporate-owned "death care" conglomerates, Fagan's is still very much a local operation. That reflects in the writing. The obituaries here tend to be more narrative. You’ll see mentions of a person's love for the Carolina Panthers or their time serving in the Korean War with the 7th Infantry Division.
Basically, they don't just list the survivors. They tell you who the person was.
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Take a look at recent 2025 and 2026 entries like Mary-Ann Robinson or Howard Tallman Searles. The details are granular. You learn about Howard being a master woodworker and the Mayor of Odessa. This level of detail happens because the funeral directors actually know the families.
The Logistics of the Search
If you are searching right now, here is the reality:
- Recent services (last 2-3 years): Go directly to the funeral home's "Recent Obituaries" tab.
- The "Middle" Years (2000-2020): These are often indexed on Legacy.com but might be behind a "tribute" wall.
- The Deep History: You want the Steuben County, New York Genealogy resources via FamilySearch or the local library.
Honestly, the hardest part is the name variations. Families often use nicknames—like "Muzzy" for Joseph C. DiCosimo or "GG" for Mary Wise. If you can’t find a record, try searching just the last name and the year.
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The Evolution of the Service
Suzanne Fagan and the team have had to modernize. It’s not just about a print ad in the Steuben Courier-Advocate anymore. Now, they handle webcasting for families who can't travel to Bath in the winter. They also manage the digital "Sympathy Store" where you can send flowers directly to the 31 West Morris Street location.
One thing people often get wrong is thinking the funeral home writes the whole obituary. Sorta. The directors assist, but the family usually provides the "heart." The funeral home ensures the legal facts—like the Social Security details and cemetery plots—are accurate.
Actionable Steps for Finding a Record
If you are looking for information on a specific individual or planning to write a notice yourself, here is how to handle it effectively:
- Check the Archive First: Don't pay for a genealogy site until you've checked the official Fagan's search bar. Many records from the last decade are free to view there.
- Contact the Historian: For any record pre-1990, call the Steuben County Historian at (607) 776-7641. They have the "Magee House" records which are the gold standard for Bath history.
- Verify the Location: Always double-check if the service is at the funeral home or a local church like the First Presbyterian Church of Bath. The obituary will specify "calling hours" vs. "funeral service."
- Gather the Essentials: If you are the one preparing a notice, you’ll need the full legal name, date of birth, and military discharge papers (DD-214) if they served. This ensures the Fagan's Inc. funeral home obituaries record is permanent and correct for future generations.
The history of Bath is written in these notices. From the Fagan family's start in the 1920s to the digital age of 2026, these records remain the most reliable way to track the lives of those who called this corner of New York home.