Search Obituary, Death and Burial Records by Name
Enter the person’s first name, last name and last known state to prepare an obituary, death, burial, cemetery, memorial and related public-record search.
Find Recent Observer–Reporter Obituaries and Verify Funeral Notices
Looking for an Observer–Reporter obituary? Start with the newspaper’s current obituary listings, search the person’s name, and confirm funeral arrangements through the handling funeral home.
This guide covers recent notices in Washington, Waynesburg, Canonsburg and surrounding Pennsylvania communities. It also explains older newspaper searches, official death records, cemetery research and benefits that may help families.
Sources reviewed: October 14, 2026 • Independent obituary information guide
Quick Answer: Where Should You Look?
Observer–Reporter listings
Use the newspaper’s Legacy obituary pages to browse recent notices or search by name.
Handling funeral home
Confirm visitation, funeral, church, cemetery and livestream details before attending.
Citizens Library or local archives
Citizens Library in Washington holds older Observer–Reporter and predecessor newspaper records.
Pennsylvania Vital Records
Request an official death certificate from Pennsylvania when a bank, insurer or estate requires one.
Find Today’s Observer–Reporter Obituaries
The Observer–Reporter publishes obituary and death-notice listings through Legacy. The dedicated Today page is a useful starting point for recently published notices.
Search Observer–Reporter Obituaries by Name
If the person does not appear on the Today page, use the broader obituary listings and available filters.
Full name known
Search the first and last name. Use the middle name only if you are confident it appeared in the notice.
Only surname known
Search the last name, then narrow by community, funeral home, school or publication date.
Older recent notice
Expand the publish-date range instead of assuming the death and obituary occurred on the same day.
Useful search filters
- Publication date or date range.
- Obituary versus In Memoriam notice.
- Town or community.
- Handling funeral home.
- High school or college when available.
- Different first-name or surname spelling.
For a broader search workflow, see our obituary search guide.
Search Washington, Greene County and Nearby Towns
The Observer–Reporter is closely associated with southwestern Pennsylvania. A person may be listed under a hometown, funeral-home community or nearby county.
Washington, PA
Washington, East Washington, South Strabane, North Strabane and surrounding communities.
Canonsburg and Cecil
Canonsburg, Houston, Cecil Township, McDonald, Burgettstown and nearby communities.
Charleroi and Monongahela
Charleroi, Monongahela, Donora, California, Bentleyville and Beallsville.
Claysville and Avella
Claysville, Avella, Hickory, West Alexander and neighboring townships.
Waynesburg and Carmichaels
Waynesburg, Carmichaels, Jefferson, Rices Landing and surrounding communities.
Mount Morris and Rogersville
Mount Morris, Rogersville, Bobtown, Greensboro and nearby West Virginia communities.
For border-area searches, check Ohio and West Virginia funeral-home notices when the deceased lived, worked or received care across state lines.
Confirm the Correct Person Before Sharing
Similar names can appear across Washington, Greene and neighboring counties. Check more than one identifying detail.
| Compare | Helpful clue | Reason to recheck |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Middle initial, nickname, maiden surname | Name details clearly conflict. |
| Age and dates | Birth year, age, death date | The result belongs to another year. |
| Relatives | Spouse, children, parents, siblings | Known family members do not match. |
| Community | Washington, Canonsburg, Waynesburg or another town | No known local connection appears. |
| Funeral provider | Named funeral home and memorial page | The provider or arrangements appear unrelated. |
Find Observer–Reporter Funeral and Visitation Links
The newspaper’s obituary directory identifies funeral homes that publish notices in the region. These providers are search leads, not endorsements.
Washington funeral homes
Observer–Reporter listings include notices associated with William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, Sollon Funeral and Cremation Service, and McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home.
Canonsburg and surrounding areas
Listings may identify Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services and other providers serving Canonsburg and nearby communities.
Beallsville and Mon Valley
John B. Greenlee Funeral Home appears among providers associated with Observer–Reporter notices.
Waynesburg and Greene County
Search the Greene County obituary listing and the original memorial from the funeral home named in the notice.
Before attending the funeral
- Confirm the full name of the deceased.
- Check visitation and funeral dates separately.
- Verify the church, chapel or funeral-home address.
- Confirm whether the event is public or private.
- Check the cemetery or graveside-service location.
- Ask about parking and accessibility if needed.
- Use only the family-authorized livestream or donation link.
Why an Observer–Reporter Obituary May Be Missing
Not yet published
A family may publish the notice several days after the death.
Funeral-home only
Some families publish a memorial through the funeral home without a newspaper notice.
Different surname
Try a maiden name, former name, initials or common nickname.
Different town
Search the hometown, place of residence and funeral-home community separately.
Older archive
Historical notices may not appear in current obituary listings.
Private announcement
A family may choose delayed publication, private services or no public obituary.
Submit an Obituary to Observer–Reporter
The Observer–Reporter obituary pages offer a Submit an Obituary option. Publication prices and deadlines should be checked before approving a notice.
Old Observer–Reporter Obituaries: Citizens Library
Citizens Library in Washington, Pennsylvania offers historical newspaper searches that are especially useful when online obituary listings do not cover the needed year.
Historical newspaper coverage
| Newspaper | Years in library records | Search advice |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Reporter | August 1808–April 1967 | Useful for older Washington-area notices. |
| Washington Observer | January 1872–April 1967 | Try this title when searching earlier decades. |
| Observer–Reporter | May 1967–February 2018 | Useful when current online listings do not go back far enough. |
| Claysville Recorder | 1894–1973 | Check for families associated with Claysville. |
| McDonald Record Outlook | 1892–1983 | Useful for McDonald-area historical research. |
Citizens Library research fee and conditions
Current obituary/newspaper research fee: $15 per request.
The library requires prepayment and does not guarantee that a requested notice will be found. A complete date, including at least the month and year, is required.
The library warns that its newspaper holdings contain gaps.
Citizens Library contact
Citizens Library
55 South College Street
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: 724-222-2400
How to request an old obituary
Washington County Historical Society Research
If the obituary date is unknown or you need more than one newspaper clipping, the Washington County Historical Society has additional research collections.
Its material includes wills, deeds, early court records, newspapers and name indexes.
Historical research
Research services use historical records, including wills and Orphans’ Court material dating back to 1781.
Name and vertical-file search
The society maintains indexes related to local families, deaths, marriages and other historical records.
Greene County and Waynesburg Obituary Archives
For older deaths connected with Waynesburg, Carmichaels or other Greene County communities, the Cornerstone Genealogical Society provides local obituary indexes and historical collections.
Cornerstone Genealogical Society
First Greene County Courthouse Annex
144 East Greene Street
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-627-5653
Posted library hours: Monday–Friday, 1:00–5:00 p.m. Call before visiting, especially around holidays.
What can you find?
Historic obituary indexes
The society has compiled Greene County obituary material reaching back to the Civil War period.
Waynesburg Republican material
The society offers historical obituary collections and references drawn from Waynesburg-area newspapers.
Funeral-home records
Its research links include a Greene County funeral-home index.
Cemetery records
Its Greene County Memorial Park index covers historical interment records for several date ranges.
How to Order a Pennsylvania Death Certificate
Pennsylvania’s Division of Vital Records issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Pennsylvania from 1906 onward.
The office is statewide. A death that occurred in Washington County or Greene County follows the same Pennsylvania certificate system.
Current death-certificate fees
| Item | Official cost | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy | $20 each | The $20 fee applies to each copy, regardless of the number ordered. |
| Online service | $10 extra | The current authorized online process has a separate service charge. |
| Mail application | $20 per copy | Pay by check or money order. Do not send cash. |
| Qualifying military-family waiver | Certificate fee may be waived | Specific eligibility, relationship, documentation and annual copy limits apply. |
Who is eligible?
Pennsylvania generally restricts certified death-certificate requests to eligible applicants aged 18 or older.
Recognized categories include:
- Spouse.
- Parent or qualifying stepparent.
- Sibling or half-sibling.
- Child or qualifying stepchild.
- Grandparent or great-grandparent.
- Grandchild or great-grandchild.
- Estate executor or administrator with required documents.
- Attorney or legal representative with supporting evidence.
- Other individuals with a documented direct interest, where permitted.
Two certificate types
With medical information
Includes cause and manner of death. It may be requested for insurance, pension or other authorized purposes.
Without medical information
Excludes medical details. Pennsylvania offers this option for deaths occurring after 2019.
Step-by-step ordering instructions
Mail-order address
Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records
Death Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Telephone: 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516.
Check the current application requirements, office services and payment instructions before mailing documents.
Military Families: Pennsylvania Death-Certificate Fee Waiver
Pennsylvania law provides a limited death-certificate fee waiver for qualifying Armed Forces members and certain spouses or representatives.
Who may qualify?
A qualifying active-service member, eligible former service member, spouse or non-remarried surviving spouse, subject to the state’s exact rules.
Which requests?
The waiver is limited to qualifying requests involving a spouse’s death, an eligible dependent child or estate representation.
Annual copy limit
Pennsylvania currently limits qualifying certificate-fee waivers to 10 copies per applicant per calendar year.
Online charge
The waiver covers eligible certificate fees, not the separate online service charge.
Older Pennsylvania Death Records: State Archives
Pennsylvania State Archives maintains historical death certificates and indexes for genealogy research. This is different from ordering a certified legal copy.
| Record period | Best starting place | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1906 | County and historic records | County death registers, church records, newspapers and cemetery records may help. |
| 1906–1975 | Pennsylvania State Archives | Historical public death certificates and available indexes. |
| More recent deaths | Pennsylvania Vital Records | Restricted records generally require a qualifying applicant. |
The Archives currently estimates about two to three weeks for these historical certificate requests.
Pennsylvania State Archives — Death Records Historical coverage, year indexes and genealogy research guidance. Request a Historical Pennsylvania Death Certificate Official $5 archival-copy route and application steps.Washington and Greene County Cemetery Research
The verified obituary should be the first clue for identifying a cemetery. The burial may be outside the town where the obituary was published.
Greene County Memorial Park indexes
Cornerstone Genealogical Society provides historical index references for Greene County Memorial Park.
The listed index groups cover periods from 1930 through 2010. They may help researchers locate a person through interment dates, relatives and funeral-related information.
Burial and Cremation Assistance in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services provides limited burial or cremation payments for some eligible deceased residents.
This is a restricted assistance program, not a payment available for every funeral. Eligibility is determined through the local County Assistance Office.
Who may be eligible?
State guidance includes certain deceased individuals who received SSI or qualifying cash assistance, along with other limited categories.
How much can the program pay?
| Countable resources | Current DHS payment rule |
|---|---|
| $750 or less | DHS payment may be $750 if other eligibility rules are met. |
| More than $750 but less than $1,500 | Payment is generally the difference between $1,500 and the available resources. |
| $1,500 or more | No DHS burial or cremation payment under the stated resource rule. |
How to check eligibility
Veteran Burial and Memorial Benefits Near Washington PA
Families of eligible Veterans may qualify for federal burial benefits, memorial items or national cemetery services.
National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
1158 Morgan Road
Bridgeville, PA 15017
Phone: 724-746-4363
Visitation: daily, sunrise to sunset.
Office: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., generally closed on federal holidays except designated holidays listed by VA.
VA provides cemetery maps, grave-locator assistance and published burial-schedule tools.
Federal benefits worth checking
- National cemetery burial eligibility.
- Government headstone or grave marker.
- Military funeral honors.
- Burial flag.
- Presidential Memorial Certificate.
- Possible VA burial or transportation allowance.
- Survivor benefits where applicable.
Washington County Veterans Affairs
Washington County Veterans Affairs
Washington, PA
Phone: 724-228-6865
The county helps Veterans and families understand federal and state benefits, including burial-related claims. Calling ahead for an appointment is recommended.
Greene County Veterans Affairs
Greene County Office of Veterans Affairs
93 East High Street, Room 2B
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-852-5275
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The office helps with funeral and burial claims and other benefits for eligible Veterans and dependents.
See also our Veterans Burial and Memorial Benefits Guide.
Verify a Pennsylvania Funeral Director or Facility
Pennsylvania’s State Board of Funeral Directors regulates licensed funeral professionals and establishments.
The Pennsylvania Licensing System, or PALS, provides public license verification.
Funeral Costs, Flowers and Memorial Safety
Funeral price list
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, ask for price information by telephone or an itemized General Price List.
Choose services
You generally have the right to select individual funeral goods and services instead of an unwanted package.
Flowers
Confirm the correct person, funeral location and family instructions before arranging delivery.
Memorial donations
Check the charity directly before entering payment details.
Guestbooks
Treat comments as public. Do not post account data, private addresses or medical claims.
Livestreams
Use only a link supplied by the funeral home, church or family-authorized memorial.
Washington and Greene County Probate Records
Finding an obituary does not establish who has legal authority to administer an estate. Pennsylvania probate and estate questions generally belong with the Register of Wills for the appropriate county.
Washington County Register of Wills
100 West Beau Street
Suite 102
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: 724-228-6775
Contact the office for will-probate and estate-administration questions.
Greene County Register and Recorder
93 East High Street
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Main county phone: 724-852-5399
Greene County provides estate, probate and Register of Wills resources through its Register and Recorder’s office.
Pennsylvania inheritance-tax timing
For legal and financial decisions, use the Register of Wills, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue or a qualified estate professional.
Greene County Register and Recorder Estate forms, probate checklists and official county guidance. Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Payment Information State timing, early-payment discount and current payment routes.After Finding an Observer–Reporter Obituary
- Save the original obituary URL and publication date.
- Confirm the funeral home and current arrangements.
- Record funeral and cemetery addresses separately.
- Ask whether the funeral director reported the death to Social Security.
- Find out how many certified death certificates are actually needed.
- Check burial assistance before assuming costs are covered.
- Review VA or local Veteran benefits when relevant.
- Keep estate papers, receipts and order confirmations secure.
- Document organizations notified after the death.
For a fuller workflow, use our After-Death Notification Checklist.
Related RecentObituaries.info Guides
Obituary Search and Recent Notices
Search by name, date, funeral home, city or newspaper.
Death Certificate and Vital Records
Understand official copies, eligibility and state-record procedures.
Veterans Burial and Memorial Benefits
Review VA cemetery, headstone, burial flag and benefit information.
After-Death Notification Checklist
Organize death records, Social Security, banks, insurance and other tasks.
How We Verify Obituary Information
Learn how funeral-home, newspaper and government sources are evaluated.
Primary and Official Sources Used
Observer–Reporter Obituaries Current newspaper notices, browsing filters and funeral-home links. Citizens Library — Washington PA Historical newspaper research, coverage and current request fee. Washington County Historical Society Genealogical research, historical indexes and records. Cornerstone Genealogical Society Greene County obituary, funeral-home and cemetery research. Pennsylvania Department of Health Certified death records, costs, eligibility and military-family waivers. Pennsylvania State Archives Historical death records, indexes and archival access. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Eligible burial and cremation assistance. National Cemetery of the Alleghenies Official VA burial, gravesite and visitation resources. Pennsylvania Licensing System Public funeral-director and facility license verification. Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule Funeral-price disclosures and consumer-choice protections.Observer–Reporter Recent Obituaries: FAQs
Where can I find today’s Observer–Reporter obituaries?
Use the dedicated Observer–Reporter Today obituary page on Legacy. If the person is not listed, use the broader browse page and check earlier publication dates.
Which Pennsylvania area does the Observer–Reporter cover?
The newspaper is closely associated with Washington and Greene counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Washington, Canonsburg, Waynesburg and surrounding communities.
How do I search Observer–Reporter obituaries by name?
Start with the full name. If the result is missing, try the surname only, alternate names, publication dates, hometown or funeral home.
Why can’t I find a recent Observer–Reporter obituary?
The notice may not yet be published, may appear only on a funeral-home website, may use another name form or may be private. Search nearby dates and communities.
Where can I find old Observer–Reporter obituaries?
Citizens Library in Washington, PA offers historical newspaper research, including Observer–Reporter records covering May 1967 through February 2018, with gaps possible.
How much does a Citizens Library obituary search cost?
Citizens Library currently lists $15 per prepaid history search request. The library requires a date including at least the month and year and does not guarantee results.
Where can I research older Greene County obituaries?
Cornerstone Genealogical Society in Waynesburg has Greene County obituary collections, historical funeral-home indexes and cemetery research material.
How much does a Pennsylvania death certificate cost?
Pennsylvania currently charges $20 per certified death certificate. The authorized online route adds a $10 service fee. Other delivery costs may apply.
Who can order a Pennsylvania death certificate?
Eligible applicants include certain adult family members, estate representatives and people with documented direct interests. Identification and supporting documents may be required.
Can military families get free Pennsylvania death certificates?
Pennsylvania provides a limited certificate-fee waiver for qualifying Armed Forces members and certain eligible family or estate requests. Current rules include documentation requirements, an annual copy limit and no waiver of online service fees.
How do I obtain an old Pennsylvania death record?
Pennsylvania State Archives holds historical death certificates for 1906–1975 and currently offers eligible uncertified archival copies for $5. Certified copies follow the state’s Vital Records process.
Does Pennsylvania help pay funeral costs?
Pennsylvania DHS may pay limited burial or cremation costs for qualifying deceased individuals. Eligibility depends on assistance status, available resources and funeral-provider requirements. The maximum payment under the current program is $750.
Where is the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies?
The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies is at 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017. Its current contact number is 724-746-4363.
How can I verify a funeral director in Pennsylvania?
Use the Pennsylvania Licensing System, PALS, to search professional or facility license information through the state’s public verification tools.
Is an Observer–Reporter obituary a certified death record?
No. An obituary is a newspaper notice or memorial. Certified death certificates are issued through Pennsylvania’s official Vital Records system.
Can an Observer–Reporter obituary be corrected?
Contact the original obituary publisher or the funeral home responsible for submission. A correction to a newspaper notice does not automatically change the official death certificate.
Before You Share, Travel or Pay
- Confirm the correct person using several identity clues.
- Open the complete newspaper notice rather than relying on a snippet.
- Verify funeral arrangements through the handling funeral home.
- Confirm cemetery and service addresses separately.
- Use Citizens Library or Greene County archives for older notices.
- Order certified records through Pennsylvania’s official system.
- Check burial-assistance eligibility before assuming costs are covered.
- Review Veteran benefits when military service applies.
- Protect private medical, financial and family information.
Independent guide: RecentObituaries.info is not Observer–Reporter, Legacy, a funeral home, cemetery, county government or Pennsylvania Vital Records. Verify final information with the original publisher or responsible organization.