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 Lima Obituaries, Funeral Services and Official Death Records
Looking for recent obituaries in Lima, Ohio? Start with The Lima News or the funeral home’s original obituary page. Search the person’s name, confirm the notice and check current visitation, funeral and cemetery details before travelling.
This guide also covers Allen County death certificates, older newspaper notices, cemetery information and local assistance.
Quick Answer: Where Should You Search First?
The Lima News
Search current obituary notices and publication-date listings.
Official Memorials
Use local funeral-home obituary pages for service and burial details.
Allen County Public Health
Order certified death certificates when an official document is required.
How to Find Today’s Lima, Ohio Obituaries
The Lima News is one of the main sources for recently published Lima-area obituary and funeral notices.
The newspaper’s obituary pages support name searches, publication-date browsing, funeral-home filters and other identifying information.
What to do after opening The Lima News page
- Open Today’s Obituaries. Check the newest publication date shown on the page.
- Scan the names. Match the person’s first and last name.
- Open the full notice. Avoid relying only on a search-result preview.
- Compare identifying details. Check age, family, community and dates.
- Find the handling funeral home. The newspaper may name the provider responsible for services.
- Open the funeral home’s memorial. Recheck service and burial information before travelling.
Search Lima Obituaries by Name, Date or Funeral Home
If you cannot find someone in the newest newspaper listings, use a wider search.
Full name known
Enter the complete first and last name. Add Lima, Ohio, only if necessary.
Only surname known
Search the surname, then narrow results using age, town, funeral home or publication date.
Former surname or nickname
Try maiden names, married names, initials, middle names and common nicknames.
Date uncertain
Search a period around the expected date of death and review notices published afterward.
Useful search examples
- “First Last” obituary Lima Ohio
- “Last Name” “The Lima News”
- “First Last” funeral home Allen County Ohio
- “Last Name” obituary Delphos Ohio
When a person lived near a county boundary, the funeral notice may appear under another nearby town or newspaper.
Local Funeral Homes With Obituary Listings
Funeral-home memorial pages often provide more complete service information than a general obituary search result.
Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services
Shawnee Chapel
1170 Shawnee Road
Lima, OH 45805
Eastside Chapel
828 Bellefontaine Avenue
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: 419-228-5474
Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home
920 North Cable Road
Lima, OH 45805
Phone: 419-229-2300
The official website offers individual obituary pages and email notifications for newly posted memorials.
How to get Chamberlain-Huckeriede obituary alerts
- Open the official obituary notification page.
- Enter your email address.
- Complete the subscription form.
- Receive email notifications when that funeral home posts new obituaries.
Other Lima-area funeral homes and providers in places such as Cridersville, Delphos and Bluffton may also publish relevant notices. Use the funeral home’s name from the newspaper obituary to locate its original memorial.
Search Nearby Communities When Lima Results Are Missing
Someone may have lived in Lima, attended school there or been treated at a Lima hospital while the obituary, funeral home or cemetery is located in another community.
Allen County
Lima, Shawnee, Elida, Spencerville, Lafayette and other Allen County communities.
North and Northwest
Delphos and Bluffton, including communities near the Van Wert and Hancock County borders.
South and East
Cridersville, Wapakoneta, Ada and nearby Auglaize or Hardin County communities.
How to Verify That You Found the Correct Person
| Compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Name | Common names may belong to several Lima-area residents. |
| Age or birth year | Helps distinguish people with similar names. |
| Family members | Spouse, parents, children or siblings can confirm identity. |
| Community | Lima, Delphos, Bluffton and nearby towns may appear in the same directory. |
| School or employer | Can help verify a known local connection. |
| Funeral home | Provides a first-party source to confirm current service details. |
Before Attending a Lima Funeral or Memorial Service
Visitation
Check the correct date, time and public visiting hours.
Funeral service
Verify whether the ceremony takes place at a chapel, church or other location.
Burial
Confirm the cemetery name, town and graveside arrangements separately.
Livestream
Use only a funeral-home or family-authorized livestream link.
Flowers or donations
Follow the family’s instructions and verify charity payment details.
Accessibility
Call the provider when wheelchair access, parking or special seating arrangements matter.
For time-sensitive service details, call the handling funeral home instead of relying on an older directory preview.
Allen County Death Certificates: Fees, Office and Ordering Steps
Allen County Public Health issues certified death records. These are different from public obituaries and may be needed for insurance, estates, pensions, bank matters and other official purposes.
| Ordering office | Current published cost | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Allen County Public Health | $27 per copy | Local office. Walk-in requests can be printed while you wait. |
| Ohio Department of Health | $21.50 | State record search/copy. Processing and delivery methods may differ. |
| Allen County online vendor | $27 base plus vendor fees | Authorized online ordering through VitalChek, with additional processing and shipping charges. |
Allen County Public Health
219 East Market Street
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: 419-228-4457 — choose option 3 for Vital Statistics.
Walk-in ordering hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m., excluding federal holidays.
Mail:
Allen County Public Health
P.O. Box 1503
Lima, OH 45802-1503
What Allen County can issue
- Allen County death records from December 1908 to the present.
- Ohio death records from 1971 to the present, according to its detailed ordering page.
- Ohio birth records from December 1908 to the present.
For a death outside Ohio, contact the vital records office in the state where the death occurred.
How to order locally
- Prepare the person’s full name. Use the legal name at the time of death.
- Prepare the date of death. The Allen County office requests this for certificate searches.
- Choose walk-in, mail or online. Compare processing speed and added charges.
- Prepare the payment. Allen County accepts cash, money order and cashier’s check. It does not accept personal checks.
- If paying by card, check the fee. A minimum $2.50 card usage fee applies.
- For mail, include the application. Enclose the required payment and use the published mailing address.
- For walk-in service, visit during ordering hours. The department says the requested certificate can be printed while you wait.
Older Lima Obituaries: Free Library Help and Historical Newspapers
Lima Public Library is one of the strongest local sources for older obituary research.
Lima News obituary index
The library’s current obituary-request policy describes an indexed collection of The Lima News obituaries from 1933 to the present.
Its broader remote-research policy also mentions obituary indexing as early as 1884. Ask the Reference Desk to confirm coverage for a particular year.
Free obituary requests
The library’s current policy says there is no charge for up to five obituary requests when the requested notices are in its index.
Different fees or research rules may apply to other inquiries.
Older online newspapers
The Lima News online NewsBank archive covers 1996 to the present. The newspaper’s separate historical archive includes much older scanned editions.
Ohio Obituary Index
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library’s Ohio Obituary Index helps researchers identify older notices through participating libraries and newspapers.
Request an obituary from Lima Public Library
- Write down the deceased person’s full name.
- Find the approximate death date or newspaper publication date.
- Search the Rutherford B. Hayes Ohio Obituary Index when necessary.
- Email the Lima Public Library Reference Department with the name and known date.
- Include your own name and contact details.
- Ask whether the request falls within the free indexed-obituary allowance.
- Choose email or another supported delivery method.
Lima Public Library Reference Department
650 West Market Street
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: 419-228-5113, extension 1.
Email: ref@limalibrary.com
The library lists in-person paper obituary copies at $0.20 per copy. Saving the obituary to a flash drive or emailing it to yourself is available without a copy charge.
Other archive shortcuts
Lima Cemetery and Burial Records
If an obituary names a cemetery, confirm its exact location and burial information before visiting. Two established Lima cemeteries offer direct cemetery-office assistance.
Woodlawn Cemetery
1751 Spencerville Road
Lima, OH 45805
Phone: 419-223-9831
The cemetery’s website states the grounds are generally open from dawn to dusk.
Memorial Park Cemetery
3000 Harding Highway
Lima, OH 45804
Phone: 419-223-3811
Grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. The office lists weekday hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
What to ask when looking for a grave
- Does the cemetery have a burial record under this name?
- What is the section, lot or grave location?
- Is there a cemetery map or directions?
- Are there visiting-hour restrictions?
- Are decorations or flowers subject to specific rules?
- Is the burial location accessible to visitors?
Cemeteries listed here are local research resources, not a claim that every Lima obituary is connected with either cemetery.
Ohio Funeral and Burial Cost Assistance
Ohio has an Indigent Burial and Cremation Support Program, but its reimbursement process is often misunderstood.
Ohio’s Indigent Burial and Cremation Program
The Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors reimburses qualifying local government entities for eligible burial or cremation expenses.
| Eligible deceased person | Maximum reimbursement |
|---|---|
| Adult age 12 or older | Up to $1,000 |
| Child age 11 or younger | Up to $750 |
The program’s current Fiscal Year 2027 allocation is limited and subject to available funds. Local governments must determine indigency, arrange and pay for qualifying services, and submit reimbursement requests within the program rules.
What to do if funeral costs are unaffordable
- Tell the funeral home that you need to discuss a lower-cost arrangement.
- Ask for an itemized General Price List.
- Explain whether estate funds, insurance or family resources are available.
- Ask which local government office handles indigent burial questions for the deceased person’s place of residence or death.
- Confirm the responsible public agency’s process before signing a contract based on expected assistance.
- Keep written estimates, invoices and agency contact information.
Allen County Job & Family Services
951 Commerce Parkway
Lima, OH 45804
Phone: 419-228-2621
This county agency provides public assistance services and referrals. It is not identified here as the automatic payer of funeral bills. Contact the responsible local government office to determine whether any burial-related help applies.
Veteran Burial and Memorial Benefits in Allen County
Families of eligible veterans may qualify for VA burial and memorial benefits. Allen County has a local Veterans Service Commission that helps veterans and eligible family members review claims and support programs.
Allen County Veterans Service Commission
County Courthouse
301 North Main Street
Lima, OH 45802
Phone: 419-223-8522
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Email: acvso@allencountyohio.com
The Commission states that its services are provided free of charge.
Benefits worth checking
- VA national cemetery burial eligibility.
- Government-furnished headstone or marker.
- Burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate.
- Possible burial or plot allowance.
- Possible transportation reimbursement.
- Survivor or dependent benefits.
- Qualifying local veteran financial assistance.
Current VA non-service-connected burial allowance
For an eligible non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026, the VA currently lists a possible $1,032 burial allowance and $1,032 plot allowance, depending on the specific eligibility and burial circumstances.
These are maximum listed benefits for qualifying cases, not guaranteed payments for every veteran.
Prepare before contacting the office
- DD-214 or accepted discharge documentation.
- Death certificate if required.
- Funeral-home and cemetery invoices.
- Proof of relationship to the veteran.
- Receipts showing who paid eligible costs.
- Any existing VA claim or benefit information.
How to Verify an Ohio Funeral Home’s License
The State of Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors regulates funeral directors, embalmers and funeral facilities.
- Open the official Ohio eLicense search.
- Choose the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
- Search the funeral home or individual licensee.
- Compare the business name and address.
- Review the current license or permit status.
- Use the Board’s complaint process if a licensing or consumer-protection concern needs formal review.
Funeral Price Rights Before Paying
The Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule gives families important choices and price protections when arranging funeral goods and services.
Ask for prices by phone
Funeral providers must give price information by telephone when asked.
Get the General Price List
When discussing arrangements in person, request the itemized price list and keep it.
Compare individual services
You generally have the right to choose individual funeral goods and services rather than an unwanted package.
Ask about third-party fees
Separate funeral-home, cemetery, crematory, obituary publication and other charges.
After Finding the Obituary: Family Checklist
- Save the original obituary URL.
- Confirm the person’s identity.
- Verify funeral, visitation and burial locations.
- Follow the family’s wishes for flowers or donations.
- Ask whether the funeral director has reported the death to Social Security.
- Order certified death certificates when required.
- Check VA benefits if the deceased was a veteran.
- Review any qualifying public assistance.
- Keep funeral invoices and certificates secure.
- Avoid sharing private financial or medical information in public guestbooks.
Related Guides
Lima Ohio Recent Obituaries: FAQs
Where can I find recent obituaries in Lima, Ohio?
Start with The Lima News obituary pages and the official websites of funeral homes serving Lima. Open the complete memorial to confirm the correct person and current funeral details.
How do I find Lima obituaries published today?
Open The Lima News Today’s Obituaries page. Check the publication date, then open the complete notice and confirm arrangements with the handling funeral home.
Which funeral homes publish Lima obituaries?
Local providers with obituary pages include Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services and Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Other providers in nearby towns may also handle Lima-area notices.
How much is an Allen County Ohio death certificate?
Allen County Public Health currently lists $27 per certified death certificate. Online vendor and card charges may increase the final price.
How much is a death certificate from the Ohio state office?
The Ohio Department of Health currently lists $21.50 for a certified death-record search/copy through its state ordering process.
Can I get a death certificate the same day in Lima?
Allen County Public Health states that eligible walk-in orders can be printed while you wait. Its published walk-in ordering hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., excluding federal holidays.
Can anyone request an Ohio death certificate?
Ohio death records are generally public records, subject to statutory exceptions. Social Security numbers and certain protected information have additional disclosure rules.
Where can I find old Lima obituaries?
Lima Public Library, the Rutherford B. Hayes Ohio Obituary Index, historical Lima newspapers and Ohio History Connection are useful sources for older research.
Does Lima Public Library provide free obituary copies?
Yes. Its current obituary request policy says up to five indexed Lima News obituary requests are free when the requested notices are on file. Different inquiries may have separate rules.
Which cemeteries are in Lima, Ohio?
Woodlawn Cemetery and Memorial Park Cemetery are two established Lima cemeteries with direct office contacts. Always check the individual obituary to identify the correct burial location.
Does Ohio provide funeral cost assistance?
Ohio’s Indigent Burial and Cremation Support Program reimburses qualifying local government entities for eligible indigent burials or cremations, subject to funding and rules. It does not pay families or funeral homes directly.
Where can I get help with veteran burial benefits in Lima?
Contact the Allen County Veterans Service Commission at 419-223-8522. Its services are free and it helps veterans and eligible family members review available benefits.
How can I verify an Ohio funeral home?
Use Ohio eLicense and choose the Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Search the business or professional name and review the current status.
What if I cannot find a Lima obituary?
Try alternate names, surrounding towns, older publication dates and individual funeral-home websites. Families may also choose to delay or avoid public obituary publication.