Finding information after a loss feels like trying to navigate through a thick fog. You’re grieving, you’re tired, and suddenly you have to be a researcher. If you are looking for peery & st clair funeral home obituaries, you are likely dealing with the passing of someone in the Tazewell, Virginia area.
Honestly, the way we find these records has changed a lot. It used to be just the local morning paper and a phone call. Now, it’s a mix of digital archives, social media posts, and legacy websites. It’s a lot.
Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home has been a fixture at 111 Ben Bolt Avenue in Tazewell for a long time. They handle the local ceremonies, the viewings, and the tough conversations that happen in that small office. When a family loses a loved one here, the obituary isn't just a notice; it’s a record of a life lived in the Appalachian highlands.
Where to Actually Find Recent Listings
The most direct way to find a recent obituary is usually through their primary publishing partner. For this specific home, that is almost always the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
Most people start with a Google search. That’s fine. But if you want the most accurate, updated details—like whether the service time changed because of a snowstorm or a local emergency—going straight to the source is better.
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph maintains a dedicated section for Peery & St. Clair. You’ll see names like George Michael Cortellesi or Ronald Jack McCall. These aren't just names; they are neighbors who graduated from Big Creek High or served in the 9th Infantry.
Checking the Official Site
The funeral home has its own website. It’s simple. No flashy graphics. Just the facts. You can find it at peerystclairfuneralhome.com.
Sometimes the site lags behind the newspaper by a few hours. If you don't see the name you’re looking for there, don't panic. Check the "Obituaries" tab on the Bluefield Daily Telegraph site. They usually have a filter where you can select the funeral home specifically.
The Details You’ll Find Inside
An obituary from Peery & St. Clair is usually pretty thorough. It’s a Tazewell tradition. You’ll see the basics:
- Full name and age.
- Date and location of passing (often Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital).
- Detailed family lineage (who the parents were, even if they passed years ago).
- Service dates at the Ben Bolt Avenue chapel.
But look closer. You’ll often find mentions of local churches like Tazewell Presbyterian or St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. These details help you understand where the visitation will actually be. Not every service happens at the funeral home itself.
Dealing with the Archives
What if you’re looking for someone who passed away years ago? This is where it gets tricky.
Digital records for this area really only go back consistently to the late 1990s or early 2000s. If you’re doing genealogy for a family member from the 70s, you might need to head to the Tazewell County Public Library. They have microfilm. It’s tedious. Your eyes will hurt. But it’s the only way to find those older "Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home obituaries" that haven't been digitized yet.
Legacy.com and Third Parties
You’ll see a lot of links to Legacy or Tribute Archive. These are usually safe. They scrape data from the newspapers. However, they sometimes have "guest books" where people leave comments. These guest books aren't always moderated by the funeral home. If you want to leave a formal condolence that the family is guaranteed to see, try to use the link on the funeral home’s direct website instead.
Why Accuracy Matters Here
In a small town like Tazewell, everyone knows everyone. Or at least, they know your uncle.
When you read these obituaries, you’re seeing the history of the county. You’ll see names of old coal miners, veterans of the Tet Offensive, and school teachers who taught three generations of kids.
If you are the one writing the obituary for a loved one at Peery & St. Clair, take your time. The staff there, usually reachable at (276) 988-4190, will help you, but they rely on your notes.
Pro tip: Double-check the spelling of "preceded in death by." It’s the most common typo in Southwest Virginia obituaries.
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Practical Steps for Searchers
If you are currently looking for a specific person, follow this order to save time:
- Search the Bluefield Daily Telegraph first. They are the primary paper of record for Tazewell County obits.
- Visit the funeral home's official website. Look for the "Recent Services" section.
- Check Facebook. Honestly, local families in Tazewell often share the full text of the obituary on their personal pages or in local community groups before it even hits the web.
- Call them. If it’s been 48 hours since a passing and you see nothing online, just call. They can tell you the service times over the phone.
Keep in mind that some families choose "Private Services." In those cases, you won't find a public obituary with a time and place. Respect that. Sometimes a short "death notice" is all that gets published.
What to Do Next
If you’ve found the obituary and need to take action, your next step is usually coordinating flowers or a donation. Most peery & st clair funeral home obituaries will list a specific charity at the bottom—like a local animal shelter or a church fund.
If you're attending a service at the 111 Ben Bolt Ave location, parking can be tight during large funerals. Plan to arrive twenty minutes early.
To get the most current list of names, visit the Bluefield Daily Telegraph obituary portal and use the "Funeral Home" filter to select "Peery & St. Clair." This is the most reliable way to stay updated on local arrangements without having to refresh multiple tabs.