Finding a specific tribute in the digital age should be easy, yet it often feels like a scavenger hunt through broken links and paywalls. If you are looking for kriner funeral home obituaries, you’re likely trying to honor someone from the Bloomsburg, Danville, or Benton areas of Pennsylvania. It’s a heavy time. I get it. Honestly, when you're grieving, the last thing you want is a complicated website interface or a search bar that returns zero results for a name you know should be there.
The Dean W. Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been a staple in Columbia and Montour counties for decades. Because they’ve absorbed several historic local firms over the years—names like Baker, Elwell, Wilt, and Roat—the records are deep. But they are also spread across a few different digital platforms.
Where the actual records live
Most people start on Google, but that’s not always the fastest route. The primary hub for kriner funeral home obituaries is the firm's official website. They maintain a dedicated archive that is surprisingly current. As of mid-January 2026, the site is actively updated with recent local passings, such as Gloria M. Shultz of Bloomsburg and Elinora "Ellie" Strausser of Danville.
You’ve got to be careful about which location you’re looking for. The business operates out of two main physical hubs now:
- The Bloomsburg location at 325 Market Street.
- The Roat-Kriner Funeral Home in Danville at 1133 Bloom Road.
If you can't find a name on the main site, it’s often because of a lag in syndication. Sometimes, families choose to post a shorter notice in The Daily Item or the Press Enterprise first. These local papers often feed into sites like Legacy.com or the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette obituary sections. It’s a bit of a web. Basically, if the official Kriner site doesn't have it, check the local Sunbury or Bloomsburg newspaper archives next.
💡 You might also like: Why How to Make Lip Scrub With Sugar is the Only DIY Beauty Hack That Actually Works
The history behind the names
It’s kinda fascinating how many legacy businesses are tucked under this one roof. Dean Kriner didn't just start a shop; he built a collection of community histories. He bought the Baker Funeral Home back in '68. That place had roots going all the way back to 1845. Think about that. That's before the Civil War.
Then came the Elwell Funeral Home purchase in 1982 and the Roat Funeral Home in Danville in 1995. When you search for an older obituary from these original firms, you are essentially looking through the Kriner archives. It’s a massive responsibility to hold that much local history.
How to search like a pro
Don't just type a first and last name and hope for the best. Common names like "Smith" or "Miller" will bury you in results. Use the "Advanced Search" features if you're on a newspaper-affiliated site. Filter by "Bloomsburg" or "Danville" specifically.
Many people don't realize that the Kriner website allows you to subscribe to notifications. If you're waiting for a specific notice to be posted for a recent loss, you can sign up to get an email the second it goes live. It saves you from refreshing the page every three hours.
Why the wording matters
Obituaries are more than just a list of dates. They are "life stories" in miniature. In the Kriner records, you’ll see specific mentions of local clubs—like the Dream Machines Motor Club or various church groups. These details are vital for genealogists. If you are doing family research, look for these "affinity markers." They often lead you to more records in church basements or library stacks that a standard search won't find.
✨ Don't miss: Cheap Matching Christmas Pajamas: How to Save Without Buying Junk
Sometimes a name might be listed under a maiden name or a nickname. "Nita June Frink," who passed recently at 99, was also known as Nita Jane (Grimm) Frink. If "Nita Frink" doesn't work, try "Nita Grimm." Use the maiden name. It’s a simple trick, but it works.
Navigating the site's features
The Kriner site isn't just a list of text. They’ve integrated a few things that actually help with the "what do I do now?" phase:
- Tribute Walls: Most obituaries have a place to leave a comment. Families actually read these. It's not just "screaming into the void."
- Flower Ordering: They link directly to local florists. It’s convenient, though some people prefer to call a local shop directly to avoid service fees.
- Grief Support: They offer a "Year of Grief Support" email series. It sounds a bit much, but for someone sitting in a quiet house for the first time in 50 years, those weekly check-ins can be a lifeline.
Common misconceptions about these obituaries
One thing people get wrong is thinking every person who passes away in Bloomsburg will have an obituary on the Kriner site. That’s not how it works. Obituaries are a service chosen by the family. If the family opts for a private service or a direct cremation without a public notice, there won't be a listing. It’s not a legal requirement to post one; it’s a tribute.
Also, don't assume the information is 100% correct. Humans write these. Family members under high stress write these. I've seen wrong middle initials and misspelled town names in the most professional funeral home records. If something looks off in a kriner funeral home obituary, it’s usually a typo from the source, not the funeral director.
💡 You might also like: Wall Clock Digital Design: Why Your Home Office Still Feels Off
Practical steps for your search
If you are currently looking for a record, start at the source. Go to the official Kriner Funeral Homes website and click the "Obituaries" tab. Use the search bar there first. If that fails, move to the Daily Item or Legacy portals.
For those looking for older records from the 70s or 80s, the digital archive might be thin. In that case, your best bet is the Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society. They have the physical microfilm of the papers that Kriner’s predecessors advertised in.
Lastly, if you're local, just call them. They are open 24/7. Sometimes a quick 2-minute phone call to the Market Street office can solve a mystery that two hours of Googling couldn't touch. They have the records; they just aren't always indexed perfectly for a search engine.
To stay updated on the most recent postings, you should head to the official website and sign up for their email alerts. This ensures you never miss a service or a chance to support a neighbor in the Bloomsburg and Danville communities.