Finding a specific name in the sf chronicle obituaries today isn't always as simple as hitting "print" on a website. Honestly, if you've ever tried to track down a notice for a friend or a distant relative, you know the digital landscape in the Bay Area is kinda messy. You have two massive sites—SFGATE and SFChronicle.com—that used to be the same thing but now aren't. It’s confusing.
People often assume that every death in San Francisco ends up in the paper. It doesn't.
Why the "Today" Part Matters
Most folks searching for sf chronicle obituaries today are looking for immediate service information. Maybe it’s a memorial at Duggan’s Serra or a service at Sinai Memorial Chapel.
The reality is that print deadlines and digital upload times are like two ships passing in the night. A notice might be in the physical Sunday paper but not hit the Legacy.com portal until Monday morning. Or vice versa.
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If you're looking for someone specifically today, January 17, 2026, the list is already growing. Recent entries include names like Johnson A. Johnson, Deborah Lynn “Deb” Mayer, and Shirley Morris. These aren't just names; they're snapshots of the city's history. From a retired teacher in the Richmond district to a long-time longshoreman, the Chronicle captures the Bay's DNA.
The SFGATE vs. SF Chronicle Confusion
Let’s clear this up once and for all.
SFGATE is the free, often more "viral" sister site. SFChronicle.com is the premium, subscription-based home of the actual newspaper.
While they both host obituaries via a partnership with Legacy.com, the way you find them can differ. If you’re looking for a deep archive or a high-res scan of the original print page, you’re going to want the Chronicle’s direct archive. If you just need to know where the funeral is, the Legacy portal on either site works fine.
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What it Costs to Say Goodbye
It’s expensive. There’s no point in sugar-coating it.
Placing an obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle is a financial commitment.
- 2-column templates: These start around $399 and give you about 80 words. That’s barely enough for a "survived by" list.
- 4-column templates: You’re looking at $599 minimum.
- 6-column templates: These start at $799 and can easily soar past $1,300 if you add a photo and a decent life story.
Basically, you pay by the line. If your loved one had a big life with lots of grandkids and a long career at Bechtel or Chevron, that bill adds up fast. Most people don't realize that the Chronicle offers a "buy two days, get the third free" deal. It’s worth it because, honestly, who reads the paper every single day? You want to catch the Sunday crowd and the Tuesday commuters.
Finding the "Hidden" Records
Sometimes the sf chronicle obituaries today search comes up empty because of a spelling error or a delay.
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If you can’t find a notice, check the "Death Notices" section. These are the shorter, text-only versions that don't always show up in the "Featured" photo carousels. Also, don't sleep on the San Francisco Public Library. They have a specific "Obituary Search Request" service. If you're looking for someone from 1974 or 1992, the library’s microfilm and NewsBank database are way better than a standard Google search.
Real People, Real Stories
Just this week, the tributes have been moving. We saw a notice for Michael "Mick" Clement, a dedicated teacher and massive sports fan who passed away just before the holidays. There was also Melissa Kenady, who grew up in the Richmond and was a fixture of the community before Alzheimer’s took its toll.
These aren't just data points for SEO. They are the stories of the people who built the BART lines, protested at City Hall, and spent their Saturdays at Golden Gate Park.
How to Search Effectively
- Use the Last Name Only First: The search engines on newspaper sites can be finicky. Don't include "Dr." or "Jr." initially.
- Check Variations: San Francisco is a town of nicknames. Search for "William" and "Bill."
- Look at the Funeral Home Website: If the Chronicle is slow to update, the funeral home (like Chapel of the Highlands or Fernwood) usually has the info up 24 hours earlier.
- Date Ranges: If you think they passed "today," search the last 7 days. Families often wait a few days to get the wording right.
Actionable Next Steps
If you need to find a specific notice right now, go directly to the San Francisco Chronicle Legacy portal. It is updated more frequently than the main news feed. If you are looking to place an ad, skip the phone call and use the iPublish AdPortal. It lets you see exactly how the photo will look and gives you a real-time price quote before you hit "submit."
For those doing genealogy research, the San Francisco Public Library's Magazines and Newspapers Center is your best bet for anything older than 2001. They can pull scans that Google hasn't indexed yet.