Glens Falls Post Star Obits: How to Actually Find Local Records

Glens Falls Post Star Obits: How to Actually Find Local Records

Losing someone in a tight-knit community like the Adirondacks or the upper Hudson Valley isn't just a private family matter. It’s a community event. In towns like Queensbury, Hudson Falls, or Glens Falls itself, checking the local paper is a morning ritual. If you are looking for glens falls post star obits, you've probably realized that navigating local newspapers in 2026 is a lot different than it used to be. The ink-stained fingers are mostly gone, replaced by paywalls and digital archives.

Honestly, the way we track our local history is shifting. The Post-Star used to be a daily staple. Now, with print editions limited to three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) and mail delivery replacing the old-school carrier, finding a death notice the "traditional" way requires a bit of timing.

Where the Records Live Now

If you need to find an obituary from this morning, your best bet is Legacy.com. They handle the digital hosting for the paper. It's basically a massive database where you can search by name or date. You’ll find recent entries like Barbara A. Riley or Joseph E. Saville Sr., names that represent the fabric of our local area.

But what if you're doing genealogy? That's a different beast. For anything older than a few years, you’re looking at sites like GenealogyBank or NewsLibrary. These archives go back decades. They are goldmines for finding that one specific mention of a great-uncle who worked at the Finch Pruyn mill or a grandmother who taught at Jackson Heights.

The Post-Star itself has been around since the late 1800s. It’s seen the rise and fall of industries and the steady growth of the Saratoga-Glens Falls corridor. Because of that, the obituaries are more than just death notices; they are a record of the region’s labor history, military service, and family migrations.

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The Cost of Saying Goodbye

Writing an obituary is tough. Paying for it shouldn't be, but let's be real—it’s getting expensive.

To place an obituary in the Post-Star in 2026, you’re looking at a starting price of around $252. That usually includes the print run and a permanent digital memorial on Legacy. Why so much? The industry is struggling. Costs for manufacturing, labor, and the simple fact that fewer people buy physical papers have driven prices up.

If you’re the one writing it, here’s a tip: watch the word count.

  • Photos matter: A picture says more than three paragraphs of text, but it also costs more.
  • Keep it focused: You don’t need to list every single surviving second cousin.
  • Verify everything: I can't stress this enough. Double-check the spelling of "Warrensburg" or "Fort Edward." Correcting a mistake after it hits the press is a nightmare and often costs extra.

Most local funeral homes like Baker Funeral Home in Queensbury or Carleton Funeral Home in Hudson Falls will handle the submission for you. They’ve done it a thousand times and know the deadlines.

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Common Deadlines to Watch

Since the paper isn't daily anymore, you have to be careful. If someone passes on a Sunday, and you miss the Monday deadline, that notice might not hit the physical doorsteps until Thursday.

  1. Tuesday Paper: Deadline is usually mid-day Monday.
  2. Thursday Paper: Deadline is Wednesday.
  3. Saturday Paper: Deadline is Friday.

Digital notices go up much faster, usually within an hour of being processed, but if you want that physical clipping for a scrapbook, you have to play by the print schedule.

Why These Records Still Matter

You might wonder why anyone still pays for a newspaper obit when you can just post on Facebook. It’s about the record. A Facebook post disappears into an algorithm. A notice in the Post-Star becomes part of the public record.

Genealogists rely on these. A single obituary can give you a mother’s maiden name, a list of siblings, a workplace, and a church affiliation. It’s a roadmap for someone 50 years from now trying to figure out where they came from. In 1999, the paper was even a Pulitzer finalist. That kind of legacy of local reporting means the archives are handled with a bit more care than a random blog post.

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Practical Steps for Researchers

If you are searching for a specific record and hitting a paywall, don't give up. The Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls is your secret weapon. They have microfilm and digital access that often bypasses the need for a personal subscription.

  • Visit the New York State Library website: Sometimes they have indexes that are free to search.
  • Check the Funeral Home site directly: Many homes like Alexander Funeral Home in Warrensburg host the full text of the obituary on their own site for free, forever.
  • Use Social Security Death Index (SSDI): Good for verifying dates before you pay for a full newspaper archive search.

Handling the "Paywall" Frustration

We've all been there. You click a link and get hit with a "Subscribe for $1" pop-up. If you only need one name, check if your local library card gives you "NewsBank" access from home. Many do. It lets you read the full text of the Post-Star without the annoying ads or subscription fees.

When you finally find what you’re looking for, whether it’s for a family tree or to send flowers to a friend, take a second to appreciate the story. These aren't just names; they're the people who built the North Country.


Actionable Next Steps

  • For immediate notices: Go directly to the Post-Star section on Legacy.com for the most current listings from the last 24–48 hours.
  • For genealogy: Contact the Crandall Public Library reference desk; they can guide you through the "Folklife Center" archives which are incredibly deep for Glens Falls history.
  • For placing an obit: Use the online submission portal at https://www.google.com/search?q=poststar.obituaries.com but call your funeral director first to see if they can get a better rate or handle the formatting for you.