Life in Philadelphia moves fast, but the back pages of the paper have a way of making everything stand still. When you’re looking for recent obituaries Philadelphia Inquirer, you’re usually not just looking for a date or a service time. You’re looking for a story. You're looking for that specific Philly flavor of a life well-lived, whether it was a Mummers Hall of Famer, a corner store legend, or a quiet neighbor from Delco who never missed a Sunday game.
Honestly, the way we track these things has changed. Gone are the days when you just picked up the thick Sunday bundle and flipped to the back. Now, it’s a mix of digital archives, Legacy.com feeds, and those rare, deeply reported editorial pieces the Inquirer staff writes for people who really shaped the city’s bones.
Where to Look for Recent Obituaries Philadelphia Inquirer
If you’re hunting for someone today, January 14, 2026, you've basically got two paths. The first is the official Inquirer website. They have a dedicated obituaries section that pulls in the "paid death notices." These are the ones families write themselves.
But if you want the "notable" deaths—the big names or the local heroes—the Inquirer staff still puts out long-form tributes. Just this month, the region has been mourning some significant losses.
- Josephine Sparango (Fort Washington): A name many in the community knew well, passed away at 86 on January 11.
- Sr. M. Cheryl Ann Murphy: A pillar of the IHM community, whose life of service ended just a few days ago in West Chester.
- George A. Monoghan: A true Philadelphian who left us on January 6 at the age of 85.
The digital feed is updated constantly. It’s kinda weird how fast it moves, but that’s the reality now. If you miss a day, the list grows by dozens.
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Notable Philadelphians We Just Lost
It’s been a heavy start to 2026. Beyond the local neighborhood notices, the Inquirer has been covering the passing of figures who resonated far beyond Broad Street.
The Sports and Culture Connection
Philadelphia sports fans are a unique breed, and when one of our own goes, it hits different. We recently saw the passing of Tommy Brown, who at 97 was one of the last links to the old-school baseball era, having played for the Phillies and Dodgers. Then there’s the news of Harold Katz passing at 87. Most people know him as the guy who founded Nutrisystem, but in this city, he’ll always be the man who owned the 76ers during that legendary 1981-1996 run.
On the national stage, but with deep local ties, the death of Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead at 78 sent ripples through the city’s massive "Deadhead" community. The Inquirer’s coverage of these figures often blends the facts with that specific Philadelphia perspective—how they influenced our streets and our stands.
Legal and Civic Giants
You can’t talk about the city's recent losses without mentioning Joseph McGettigan III. He was 76. If you followed the news over the last few decades, you know he was the powerhouse prosecutor behind some of the state's biggest cases, including the Jerry Sandusky and John du Pont trials. He was a guy who knew the law like the back of his hand and didn't pull punches.
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How the Process Actually Works
If you're in the position of needing to place one of these notices, it’s not as simple as just sending an email and hoping for the best. There are two distinct types of "recent obituaries Philadelphia Inquirer" entries.
- Paid Death Notices: This is what most people see. It’s handled through the advertising department. Prices usually start around $654, which sounds steep, but that includes the print run and a permanent digital home on Legacy.com.
- Editorial Obituaries: These are the "news" obituaries. They are written by Inquirer staff writers and are reserved for people of some local prominence—doctors, educators, or community leaders. You can actually suggest someone for this by emailing the "Obit Desk" directly at
inquirerobits@phillynews.com, but they are very selective.
The deadlines are pretty strict. If you want something in the Tuesday paper, you usually have to have it finalized by 5:00 P.M. on Monday. For the big Sunday edition? You better have it ready by 4:00 P.M. Saturday.
Searching the Archives Like a Pro
Sometimes you aren't looking for someone who passed yesterday. Maybe you're doing genealogy or trying to settle an old family story. The Inquirer’s partnership with GenealogyBank is the secret weapon here. They have records going back 150 years.
Pro tip: When searching for older women in the archives, try searching by their husband's name. It’s an old-fashioned (and honestly, kinda annoying) convention, but back in the day, a woman might be listed as "Mrs. John Smith" instead of her own name.
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If you're looking for someone within the last 30 days, the Legacy.com "Browse" tool is your best bet. You can filter by "Last 30 Days" and specifically select "The Philadelphia Inquirer" as the source. This avoids getting results from suburban weeklies if you only want the big city paper.
The Human Side of the Back Page
Reading these isn't just about data. It’s about the "dash"—that little line between the birth year and the death year. In the recent notices, you’ll see some beautiful details. Like Sarah Sona Babaian, who passed at 94. Her family made sure to mention she was a passionate artist from the Philadelphia Museum School of Art and loved her cats like children.
Or Dennis P. King, a golfer who "played his last hole" in December. He was a die-hard Phillies fan who watched every single game. That’s the stuff that makes an obituary human. It’s not just a record; it’s a final "hello" to the city they loved.
Actionable Steps for Readers
If you need to find a specific notice or preserve a memory, here is the most direct way to handle it:
- To search for a name from the last 24-48 hours: Go directly to the Inquirer’s obituary landing page or the Legacy.com Philadelphia portal.
- To submit a paid notice: Contact the death notices department at 215-854-5800. Be prepared with the funeral home’s contact info, as the paper will verify the death before publishing.
- To request a correction: If you spot an error in a recently published notice, email
postanobit@legacy.comorinfo@legacy.comimmediately, as digital versions can be updated faster than you might think. - For deep research (pre-2000): Use the Philadelphia Free Library’s digital resources. They have microfilm and digital scans that are free for cardholders and far more comprehensive than a basic Google search.