Finding the right information about joliet herald news obituaries for today shouldn't feel like a chore. Honestly, when you're looking for news about a neighbor, a former teacher, or a family friend in Will County, you want the facts—fast and accurate. Life moves quick. One minute you're grabbing coffee at Jitters, the next you're hearing through the grapevine that someone from the old neighborhood passed away.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026. If you’ve spent any time in Joliet, you know the Herald-News is basically the "town square" for this kind of thing. It’s where we go to remember the people who built this city, from the steel mill workers of the past to the teachers at Joliet Central and West.
Who We Are Remembering Today
It’s a heavy day for some families in the area. The local community is currently saying goodbye to several individuals whose lives left a mark on Joliet, Shorewood, and the surrounding towns.
Mark Clark, a name many in the local trades might recognize, is being honored with a visitation today. Mark was 65 and lived in Shorewood. If you ever had a pool put in or worked in that industry, you likely knew him as the guy behind Neptune Pools. His visitation is happening this afternoon, January 18, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home on Black Road. There’s a service right at 5:00 p.m. He was a Joliet guy through and through.
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Then there is Primo "Don" Govoni. He was 95. That’s a long, full life. Don passed away recently at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in Manteno. For those looking to pay their respects, his visitation is also today, January 18, starting early at 9:00 a.m. and running until a prayer service at 11:45 a.m. over at Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home. He was a veteran and a teacher, the kind of guy who probably taught half the city how to solve a math problem or respect a flag.
Recent Notices and Services
Sometimes the paper or the website takes a second to update, but here are a few other names that have appeared in the joliet herald news obituaries for today and recent days:
- Edward P. Gannon, age 83, of Joliet.
- Linda Irene Noble (Morgan), age 80, of Lockport.
- Fr. Richard B. Prodehl, age 87, who served the community for decades.
- Ronald Melvin Whitaker, age 84.
- William P. "Bill" Haldorson, age 76, of Wilmington.
How to Find the Full Records
Look, I get it. Sometimes you miss the physical paper or the website layout is a bit clunky. If you are searching for joliet herald news obituaries for today, the most direct route is usually through the Shaw Local website or their partnership with Legacy.com. They usually group them by "Latest" or "Today," but a pro tip: check the "Last 7 Days" section. Funerals in Joliet often happen about a week after the passing, so the service info you need today might have been published last Wednesday.
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The Herald-News has been around for over 150 years. That’s a lot of history. If you’re doing genealogy, you’re not looking at today’s paper; you’re looking at the archives. Places like GenealogyBank or the Joliet Public Library are better bets for the old stuff. But for right now? For today? The digital "Obituaries" tab on Shaw Local is where the action is.
Why Local Obituaries Still Matter
Some people think the "obits" are a dying art. They're wrong. In a city like Joliet, which feels like a big small town, these notices are how we maintain our social fabric. It's how you find out that your 3rd-grade teacher at St. Ray's passed away, or that the guy who owned the local hardware store is being buried on Monday. It’s about respect.
Navigating the Legacy Site
When you click on the joliet herald news obituaries for today, you’ll likely land on a Legacy-hosted page. It can be a bit overwhelming with the pop-ups and the "send flowers" buttons. Don't get distracted. Look for the "Funeral Home" link. Often, the funeral home’s own website (like Fred C. Dames or Tezak’s) will have more personal photos and a much longer life story than what fits in the printed column.
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Actionable Steps for Today
If you found a name you recognize in the joliet herald news obituaries for today, here is what you should actually do:
- Check the Service Times: Double-check the location. There are two "Dames" funeral homes, one in Joliet and one in Morris. Don't go to the wrong one.
- Sign the Guestbook: Even if you can't make it to the wake, leaving a short note like "I worked with Mark back in the 90s, he was a great guy" means the world to a grieving family.
- Note the Memorials: Many families today, including Mark Clark’s, are asking for donations to places like the St. John food pantry instead of flowers. It’s a good way to honor someone’s legacy by helping the city they loved.
- Verify via the Funeral Home: If you see a name but no details, go straight to the source. Local homes like Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag, Fred C. Dames, or Minor-Morris usually post the full schedule before the paper even hits the porch.
Losing people is part of life in Will County, but keeping their memory alive is what we do best. Take a moment today to acknowledge those we've lost. It's the Joliet way.
To stay current on local arrangements, visit the official Joliet Herald-News obituary portal or check the websites of the specific funeral homes mentioned above for the most immediate updates on service changes or additions.