Finding a specific name in the South Jersey Times obits today feels a lot different than it did even five years ago. You used to just grab the thick Sunday paper, flip to the back, and scan the columns. Now? It’s a digital maze of paywalls, Legacy.com mirrors, and social media posts. Honestly, if you’re looking for someone from Woodbury, Glassboro, or Salem, you’ve probably noticed that the "paper of record" has basically moved entirely online to NJ.com.
Losing someone is hard enough. Scrambling to find out where the viewing is shouldn't be.
Where to Look for South Jersey Times Obits Today
The South Jersey Times—which grew out of the old Gloucester County Times, Today's Sunbeam, and The News of Cumberland County—is the primary source for southern NJ death notices. Most people go straight to the NJ.com "South Jersey Times" portal. It’s where the formal notices end up. For example, today, January 19, 2026, you'll see a mix of "Featured" obituaries and the standard chronological list.
Sometimes names appear late. Funeral directors have to hit specific deadlines, usually by mid-afternoon, for a name to pop up the next morning. If you don't see a name immediately, it's often worth checking the local funeral home’s direct website. Many families in Gloucester and Salem counties use places like Woodside Funeral Home in Salem or various spots in Woodbury. These local sites often post the full tribute hours before the newspaper feed refreshes.
The Shift from Print to Digital
It’s kinda weird how the physical paper has shrunk. You might buy a copy at Wawa and find only three or four printed notices, while the website has twenty. This is mostly because print space is expensive. Families are increasingly opting for "online-only" tributes or shorter "death notices" to save a few hundred dollars.
A full obituary with a photo and a long story about the person’s life? That can cost a fortune in the physical South Jersey Times. Most folks are sticking to the essentials:
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- Name and age.
- Date of passing.
- Service times at the funeral home or church.
- Where to send flowers or donations.
Surprising Facts About NJ Death Records
Did you know that in New Jersey, an obituary isn't actually a legal requirement? It’s a public service and a tribute, but not a law. Many people assume the state automatically publishes a notice, but it’s actually the family or the funeral director who has to initiate it.
Another thing that trips people up is the geography. The South Jersey Times covers a massive area. You’ll see notices for people from Mullica Hill right next to someone from Pennsville or Bridgeton. Because of this, the search filters on the website are your best friend. Don't just scroll. Use the "Last 24 Hours" or "Last 7 Days" filter to narrow things down, or you'll be looking at every Janice and John from the last month.
Real Examples from the Current Feed
As of mid-January 2026, the listings have been heavy with veterans and long-time community leaders. For instance, notice how many families are now including "In lieu of flowers" requests for local charities like the Food Bank of South Jersey. It’s a trend that has basically become the standard over the last year. We're also seeing a lot more "Celebration of Life" notices rather than traditional viewings, which changes how the dates are listed in the South Jersey Times obits today.
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Tips for Searching Effectively
If you're struggling to find a specific person, try these steps. They work better than just Googling the name.
- Check the Funeral Home First: If you know which home is handling the arrangements (like Daley Life Celebration Studio or Smith Funeral Home), go to their site. They update in real-time.
- Use Maiden Names: For older women in South Jersey, the record might be filed under a maiden name or include it in parentheses.
- Broaden the Date: Sometimes the "today" in your search is too narrow. A death on Friday might not have a published obit until Tuesday.
- Look at The Sentinel: For Gloucester County specifically, The Sentinel often carries more "hyper-local" details that the larger South Jersey Times might miss.
Why Accuracy Matters Right Now
In 2026, we're seeing more "scrape" sites—these are fake websites that steal obituary info and put it behind weird links or fill it with ads. It's frustrating. Always stick to the official NJ.com link or the verified funeral home URL. If a site asks you to download something to see an obituary, close the tab immediately.
The South Jersey Times remains the most reliable source, even if the transition to digital has been a bit bumpy for the older generation who still wants that physical clipping for their scrapbooks.
Moving Forward with Your Search
If you've found the notice you were looking for, the next step is usually checking the guestbook. NJ.com uses the Legacy platform for this. You can leave a digital candle or a note for the family.
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For those who need to publish a notice themselves, contact your funeral director first. They usually have a "bulk" rate with the South Jersey Times that is cheaper than if you called the paper’s advertising department yourself. Also, keep a digital copy of the text. Once it's published, it’s a lot harder to go back and fix a typo in a middle name or a street address.
Check the local cemetery records or the New Jersey Department of Health if you are doing genealogical research rather than looking for a recent passing. The state archives in Trenton hold records that go back much further than any newspaper's digital database.