Finding a specific tribute in the joliet herald newspaper obits isn't as straightforward as it used to be. You remember how it worked twenty years ago. You’d walk to the end of the driveway, snap the rubber band off the paper, and flip straight to the back. It was a ritual. Now? It’s a digital maze of paywalls, partner sites, and confusing archives.
If you're trying to track down a notice for a friend or looking into your family tree in Will County, you've probably noticed that the "Joliet Herald-News" doesn’t even have its own standalone website anymore. It’s tucked inside the Shaw Local News Network. That’s the first hurdle most people trip over.
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Finding Recent Joliet Herald Newspaper Obits Without the Headache
Most folks head straight to Google, type in a name, and hope for the best. Sometimes it works. Often, it doesn't.
The joliet herald newspaper obits are officially hosted through a partnership with Legacy.com. Honestly, if the person passed away in the last few days, that’s your best bet. You can filter by "The Herald-News" specifically so you aren't digging through notices from Chicago or Rockford.
Why the Search Bar Fails You
Ever searched for a common name like "Miller" or "Sullivan" and got 4,000 results? It's frustrating. The trick is using quotes. If you search for "John Robert Smith", the system looks for that exact string. Without the quotes, it just finds every "John" and every "Smith" that ever lived in Joliet.
Also, check the spelling. Old newspaper scans (the ones from the 1900s) often have typos. The OCR software—that’s the tech that "reads" the old paper—sometimes mistakes an "S" for an "8." If you can't find a relative, try searching for just the last name and the year. It takes longer, but you’ll actually find what you're looking for.
The Archive Secret: Beyond the Last 30 Days
What happens when you need an obit from 1984? Or maybe 1915, back when the paper first merged into the "Herald-News"?
You won't find those on the current Shaw Local website. They just aren't there. For the deep history, you have to go to the Joliet Public Library. Specifically, the Ottawa Street branch. They have the motherlode of microfilm.
- Microfilm is free: You can walk in and use the readers for nothing.
- The Library Staff: They actually do lookups. If you live out of state and know the month and year, you can call them at 815-740-2666.
- NewspaperArchive.com: This is a paid service, but it’s one of the few places that has digitized the Joliet papers from the late 1800s.
How to Place an Obituary Today
It’s expensive. Let's just be real about that. In 2026, the cost of a printed notice in the joliet herald newspaper obits can easily run several hundred dollars.
Most people go through the funeral home. It’s easier. The funeral director has a portal, they upload the photo, and they bill you later. But you can do it yourself. Shaw Media uses an "Adportal" self-service system.
Pro Tip: If you're writing it yourself, watch the word count. Most papers charge by the line. You don't need to list every single cousin. Focus on the core family and the service details. You can always put the "long version" on a free Facebook memorial page.
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Common Misconceptions About the Herald-News
People still call it "The Joliet Herald." Technically, it hasn't been just the "Herald" since 1913 when Ira Clifton Copley bought the "Joliet News" and mashed them together.
Another big mistake? Thinking every death in Joliet gets an obit. It’s not a law. It's a paid advertisement. If the family didn't pay for it, it won't be there. If you're looking for someone and can't find a notice, check the Will County Clerk’s office for a death certificate instead. It’s less poetic but more definitive.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you are currently hunting for a record in the joliet herald newspaper obits, follow this specific order to save time:
- Check Legacy.com first: Filter by "Herald-News" and use the "Past 30 Days" filter to narrow it down.
- Use the "Site:" command on Google: Type
site:shawlocal.com "Name"into the search bar. This forces Google to only show you results from the newspaper's actual parent site. - Visit the Joliet Public Library website: They have access to databases like Ancestry.com (Library Edition) and HeritageHub which are often free if you have a library card.
- Verify with Funeral Home sites: Many local spots like Fred C. Dames or Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag post the full text of the obit on their own sites for free. This is a great "backdoor" if the newspaper version is behind a paywall.
Searching for these records is about more than just dates. It's about finding that one story about a grandfather's bowling league or a grandmother's prize-winning garden. Start with the digital archives, but don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call a local librarian if the trail goes cold.