Finding a specific tribute in the local papers can be a bit of a maze, honestly. You’re looking for McGonigle funeral home obituaries, and suddenly you’ve got three different websites open, two of them are asking for a subscription, and you just want to know when the visitation starts. It’s frustrating. But there’s a reason people in the Shenango Valley and New Castle areas lean so heavily on this specific name.
The J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory isn’t just some corporate chain that popped up overnight. It’s been around since 1897. That is a massive amount of history. When you're looking through these obituaries, you aren't just looking at dates; you're seeing the life stories of people who built these towns—the steel workers from Sharon Steel, the teachers from Hickory High, and the veterans who came home to Pennsylvania after the wars.
Where the Obituaries Actually Live
If you’re hunting for a recent passing, you have a few real options. Don't just Google and click the first ad you see. Most people go straight to the official website for J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory. It’s the "source of truth," basically.
They keep a very clean list of everyone they are currently serving. For example, looking at the records from mid-January 2026, you’ll find names like Nicholas Kolbrich, Sr., an 89-year-old Sharon resident who spent years at Sharon Steel, or Bernice Leona Derekos from New Castle. These aren't just names; the site usually includes full biographies, photos, and that all-important guestbook where you can leave a note for the family.
Local News Outlets
Often, the obituaries are mirrored in the local press. If the person lived in Sharon, check The Sharon Herald. If they were from the New Castle side of things, the New Castle News is the go-to.
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- The Sharon Herald: Good for people in Hermitage, Farrell, and Sharpsville.
- New Castle News: Best for Lawrence County residents.
- Allied News: Usually covers the Grove City and Mercer areas.
Legacy.com also aggregates these, but it can get cluttered with ads. The funeral home's own site is usually faster and less "busy" if you're on a mobile phone.
A Legacy of "Firsts" in Pennsylvania
There is a pretty wild bit of history behind this business that most people don't realize. Back in 1907, the founder, John A. McGonigle, died of typhoid fever at only 37. You’d think the business would have folded then. But his widow, Bessie McGonigle, stepped up.
She became the first licensed woman funeral director in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Think about that for a second. This was long before women even had the right to vote. She faced a massive amount of prejudice, but she kept the doors open. Today, that legacy has continued through nine of her descendants. That’s why the obituaries today feel so personal—they’re written by a family that has been doing this for over a century.
What You’ll Find in a Modern McGonigle Obituary
Gone are the days of the three-line "death notice" that just says someone died and when the funeral is. Today, mcgonigle funeral home obituaries are pretty detailed. They read like mini-biographies.
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You’ll see where they graduated—maybe it was the Class of 1955 at Hickory or 1962 at Mohawk Area High School. You’ll find out they were an avid hunter, or that they had a "green thumb," or that they spent 40 years at J&L Steel in Aliquippa like Blaine C. Short, who passed recently at 91.
Why the Detail Matters
It helps the community connect. You might not have known "Mr. Smith" well, but you see in his obituary that he was a veteran stationed in Germany or that he earned his degree from Penn State Shenango. That common ground is what brings people to the visitation.
Practical Steps for Attending a Service
If you find an obituary and realize you need to go to the service, you need to know which building to go to. They have two main spots:
- Sharon Location: 1090 East State Street. It’s right near the Walgreens, easy to find.
- New Castle Location: 111 West Falls Street.
Pro tip: Always double-check the "Visitation" vs. "Funeral Service" times. Usually, there's a window of 2 to 4 hours the day before the funeral where you can just walk in, sign the book, and talk to the family. The actual funeral service is often more formal and starts at a specific time.
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Virtual Options
Not everyone can make the drive, especially in a Pennsylvania winter. The McGonigle family started offering live streaming for many services. If you can’t be there in person, look at the bottom of the online obituary. Often, there will be a link to a private or public stream so you can still pay your respects from your living room.
Handling the Logistics
If you are the one responsible for writing one of these obituaries, don't feel like you have to do it alone. The directors there—the McGonigles and their staff—basically walk you through it. They’ll ask about the person’s hobbies, their work history, and their survivors. It’s better to include those small details, like a love for the Cleveland Clinic (where many locals go for care) or a passion for 4-H, because those are the things people remember.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Search the Archive: If you're looking for an older record, use the "Advanced Search" feature on their website. You can filter by year or first name to find records going back several years.
- Sign the Guestbook: If you find the obituary of a friend, take thirty seconds to write a memory. Families often print these out and keep them forever; it means more than a store-bought card.
- Check for Service Changes: Winter weather in Mercer and Lawrence counties can be brutal. If there’s a snowstorm, check the official funeral home website or their Facebook page for any delays in service times before you head out.