Finding a specific notice in the Albuquerque Journal obituaries today isn't always as simple as a quick Google search. Honestly, if you've ever tried to track down a memorial service for a friend or distant relative in New Mexico, you know the digital trail can be a bit of a mess. Between the official newspaper site, third-party hosting platforms like Legacy, and the various funeral home pages, things get confusing fast.
It’s about more than just a name and a date. These entries are the final records of lives lived—people like Jerry Montoya, a master of the meat smoker and a fly-fishing connoisseur whose memorial is coming up this Wednesday at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When you're looking for these details, you need accuracy, not a wild goose chase through broken links.
Where the Albuquerque Journal obituaries today actually live
Most folks assume you just go to the Journal’s homepage and click a button. You can, but you'll likely be redirected. Currently, the "live" database for the Journal is largely managed through Legacy.com. It's a massive repository, but it’s searchable.
If you're looking for someone specifically from this week, you’ll find names like Lucinda Romero, who recently passed at the incredible age of 100, or Samuel "Sam" Sharp Jr., whose life story was just published on January 16. The digital version often includes more than the print edition—think full-color photos and "guest books" where you can leave a note for the family.
Breaking down the search process
Don't just type a name and hope for the best.
- Use the "Publish Date" filter. If you're looking for someone who passed recently, set the filter to the last 24 hours or the last week.
- Check the location. The Journal covers a lot of ground, including Belen, Rio Rancho, and even Santa Fe sometimes.
- Initials matter. For older records or very formal notices, families might use "J.B. Smith" instead of "John Smith." It’s a small detail, but it’s a total game-changer for finding the right person.
The cost of saying goodbye (and why it’s so high)
Let’s be real: putting an obituary in the paper is expensive. It’s not just a public service; it’s a revenue stream for the publication. In 2026, the Albuquerque Journal still requires a verification process with a funeral home or crematorium before anything goes to print. You can't just send in a write-up yourself and expect it to run.
The pricing isn't flat. It’s based on line count and whether you want a photo. A small, text-only notice might not break the bank, but a full life story with two photos (the max allowed for standard entries) can easily climb into the hundreds of dollars. They offer icons—little crosses, flags for veterans, or flowers—but those often add to the total. If you're planning this for a loved one, the deadline for the Sunday edition is usually Friday at 1:30 p.m. Miss that window, and you're waiting until Monday or Tuesday.
Why people still bother with the print edition
You might wonder why anyone pays for the physical paper anymore. Well, in New Mexico, tradition runs deep. Having that physical clipping of the Albuquerque Journal obituaries today to put in a scrapbook or mail to an aunt in California still matters to a lot of families.
Plus, the print edition serves as a legal record. For settling estates or proving a death to certain old-school institutions, a scan of the newspaper page carries more weight than a screenshot of a website.
Recent notices and upcoming services
If you are looking for service times right now, here are a few significant ones noted this week:
- Jerry Montoya: Rosary on Jan 21st, Mass on Jan 22nd at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Reyes Hernandez Jr.: Services on Jan 20th at St. Jude Church.
- Lucinda Romero: Services on Jan 23rd at Our Lady of Belen.
These details often change at the last minute, so checking the "Today's Obituaries" section on the Journal's affiliate site is safer than relying on a Facebook post.
Missing information and the "Archive Gap"
One thing that catches people off guard is when a name doesn't show up at all. Sometimes a family chooses not to run a notice in the Journal because of the cost, opting instead for a free post on a funeral home’s website like Gabaldon Mortuary or French Funerals.
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If you can't find someone in the Albuquerque Journal obituaries today, check the local funeral home sites directly. They often have the "digital-only" versions that never made it to the newspaper.
Also, if you're doing genealogy, the archives are a different beast. For anything before 1995, you’re looking at microfilm at the New Mexico State Library or using a paid service like GenealogyBank. The Journal has been around for nearly 150 years, but only the last few decades are truly "clickable."
Actionable steps for your search
If you need to find a notice or place one today, follow these specific steps:
- To find a notice: Go directly to the Albuquerque Journal’s Legacy portal. Filter by "Last 24 Hours" to see today's entries.
- To verify a service: Call the funeral home mentioned in the text. They have the most current info on weather delays or venue changes.
- To submit a notice: Email
obits@abqjournal.comor call (505) 823-3373. Have your funeral home contact info ready, or they won't process the request. - For historical research: Use the NM State Library’s "Newsbank" access if you’re a New Mexico resident; it’s free and covers back to 1995.
Searching for a loved one is emotional enough without technical hurdles. Stick to the official channels and remember that the most detailed information usually arrives 3 to 5 days after a passing, rather than the morning of.