Honestly, when you're scrolling through the Times News obituaries Lehighton PA section, you aren't usually looking for a "content experience." You're looking for a name. Maybe a face. You’re looking for that specific connection to someone who lived just down the street on Mahoning Street or someone who spent forty years working over at the old zinc company.
It's heavy.
The Times News—which most of us just call "the paper"—has been the heartbeat of Carbon County since back when it was the Mauch Chunk Daily Times in the 1880s. Today, it’s where we go to see who’s passed, sure, but it’s also where the community preserves its DNA. People think an obituary is just a notice. It isn't. It's the last story.
Finding Recent Times News Obituaries Lehighton PA
If you’re trying to find someone right now, you’ve basically got two main paths. Most people just head to the official Times News Online website. There’s a dedicated obituaries tab there that’s pretty easy to navigate.
But here is the thing: a lot of people don’t realize that the Times News partners with Legacy.com. This is actually where the "interactive" stuff happens. You’ll find the guestbooks there. You can see memories shared by neighbors or high school friends who moved away decades ago. For example, recent listings include local names like Dean R. Leickel or Ernest P. "Reds" Christman from Lehighton. Seeing those names in print or on a screen makes it real.
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Why the Print Edition Still Hits Different
Even though everything is digital now, there is still something about seeing a name in the physical paper. The Times News is published daily (except Sundays) as a tabloid-style paper. Families in Lehighton, Palmerton, and Jim Thorpe still clip these out. They put them on the fridge. They tuck them into Bibles.
How Much Does a Times News Obituary Actually Cost?
Nobody wants to talk about money when they’re grieving, but it's a real question people ask. Costs can vary wildly depending on how much you want to say.
Based on current 2026 data and regional standards, here is the breakdown of what you're looking at:
- Death Notices: These are the "short and sweet" versions. They basically just say who died, when, and where the service is. These usually start around $35.
- Full Obituaries: This is where you tell the story. The pricing is often tiered. For instance, you might pay $0.80 per word for the first 100 words, but that rate drops as the length increases.
- The "Extras": Adding a photo (which you absolutely should do) or a special emblem like a flag for a veteran will add to the total.
The cool part? If you pay for a print obituary, you usually get that permanent online memorial on Legacy.com for free. It’s a package deal.
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Working with Local Funeral Homes
Most people in Lehighton don't actually submit the obituary themselves. They let the pros handle it. If you’re working with Schaeffer Funeral Home on Alum Street or Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, they usually have a direct line to the Times News office.
They know the deadlines. They know the formatting. Honestly, it's one less thing for you to worry about when your brain feels like mush.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Fact-Checking Names: You'd be surprised how many people misspell their own cousins' names in the middle of grief. Double-check the grandkids.
- Service Details: If the service is private, say it. Otherwise, you might have well-meaning people showing up at your house when you just need to be alone.
- Donation Info: If you want "in lieu of flowers" donations to the Carbon County Animal Shelter or a local church, make sure the address is 100% correct.
The Evolution of the Times News
The paper isn't just a paper anymore; it’s the Times News Media Group. Under the ownership of Pencor Services (the same folks who do Blue Ridge Communications), they’ve stayed alive while other local papers folded.
Why? Because Lehighton is a "know your neighbor" kind of place. People care about the local bowling scores and, yes, they care about the obituaries. It's the record of who we are.
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Practical Next Steps
If you need to find an older obituary from a few years back, don't just search Google. Use the search filters on the Legacy.com affiliate page for Times News. You can filter by date range or even by the specific funeral home.
If you are the one writing an obituary for a loved one right now:
- Focus on one "spark": Did they love the Phillies? Were they famous for their potato salad? Put that in there. It makes it human.
- Check the deadline: If you want it in tomorrow's paper, you usually need to have it submitted by the early afternoon today.
- Keep a copy: Save the digital link and buy five copies of the physical paper. You’ll want them later.
Losing someone in a small town like Lehighton feels different because the community feels it with you. The Times News obituaries Lehighton PA section is just the place where that community comes together to say goodbye.