Losing someone in the Steel City is heavy. It's a place where neighborhoods are tight, families span generations, and the morning paper used to be the gospel for who passed and where the viewing was. But honestly, if you're looking for pittsburgh post gazette obits right now, you've probably noticed things aren't as straightforward as they were back in the day.
The landscape is shifting. Fast.
Earlier this month, in January 2026, the bombshell dropped: the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced it would be shutting its doors for good on May 3rd. That’s a massive deal for a paper that’s been around for 240 years. It’s not just about the news; it’s about the record of our lives. When the "PG" stops printing, those daily death notices that families relied on for over two centuries will have to find a new home.
Finding Recent Post-Gazette Obituaries (Before the May 3rd Deadline)
If you're looking for someone who passed away this week, the process is still mostly digital. You don't have to go hunting for a physical paper at a Giant Eagle. The most direct route is through the official obituaries.post-gazette.com portal.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Fox News Signal Chat Leak Still Matters for Digital Privacy
It’s basically a partnership with Legacy.com. When you land there, you’ll see "Featured Obituaries" right at the top. These are usually the ones where families paid a bit extra for a photo and a longer write-up. If you’re looking for a specific name, there’s a search bar. Simple enough. But here’s a tip: don’t just search by the last name. Pittsburgh is full of Millers, Smiths, and Santis. Filter by the date or the funeral home name if you know it. It’ll save you a lot of scrolling.
Most people don't realize that the guestbooks on these digital obits are moderated. If you leave a message of condolence, it won't show up instantly. Sometimes it takes a few hours, or even up to three days. Two actual humans usually review those comments to make sure some random spammer isn't trying to sell crypto in the middle of a tribute to someone’s grandma.
The Cost Factor
Writing a tribute isn't cheap. Honestly, it's kinda pricey.
- A basic notice starts around $35.
- The "Standard" packages, which include a photo and a longer life story, can jump to $100 or significantly more depending on the length.
- If you want it to appear in the Sunday print edition (while those still exist), expect the price to climb.
The paper currently only prints on Sundays and Thursdays. If your loved one passes on a Monday and you want that physical clipping for the scrapbook, you're waiting until Thursday. After May 3rd, 2026, that physical option vanishes entirely.
Searching the Archives: How to Find Old Records
What if you're doing genealogy? Maybe you're looking for a great-uncle who passed in the 70s or 80s. You aren't going to find that on the current Legacy.com landing page.
For the older stuff, you have to dig into the digital archives. The Post-Gazette has a "PG Store" and an archive section where you can search historical records. If you’re a power user, sites like Ancestry.com or Newspapers.com are actually better. They’ve indexed the PG back to the 1800s.
💡 You might also like: Student Loan Collection Changes: What Most People Get Wrong
Keep in mind that some of the very old obits—we're talking 19th century—weren't the flowery stories we see now. Often, they were just a single line in a "Deaths" column: “O’Malley, Patrick, age 42, of the South Side, on Tuesday.” ## Why the Post-Gazette Closure Changes Everything
The May 2026 closure is the elephant in the room. Block Communications, the owners, cited massive losses and a long-running labor battle as the reason for pulling the plug.
So, what happens to the pittsburgh post gazette obits after May?
Basically, the community will likely migrate to the Tribune-Review (TribLive) or smaller local patches. Legacy.com will likely keep the PG "branded" page alive as a historical landing spot for a while, but new notices will have to go elsewhere.
If you are a funeral director or a family member trying to place a notice in these final months, you need to be aware of the deadlines. The "obits@post-gazette.com" email is still the main hub for submissions. But don't wait until the last minute. With the staff cuts and the impending closure, the "Obituary Team" (reached at 412-263-1371) is spread pretty thin.
How to Write a Human Tribute (Not an AI One)
When you're the one writing, it’s easy to get stuck. "He was a loving father who will be missed by all." Boring. Everyone says that.
If you want the obit to actually reflect a Pittsburgher, mention the specific things. Did they never miss a Sunday at St. Rosalia's? Did they have a "parking chair" they defended with their life in Brookline? Were they at the Immaculate Reception? These are the details that make an obituary worth reading and worth saving.
- Skip the clichés. "Passed away peacefully" is okay, but "Finally hung up his hard hat" is better.
- Get the survivors right. Double-check the spelling of the grandkids. There is nothing worse than a typo in a permanent record.
- Include a "Call to Action." Instead of just "flowers," suggest a donation to a local spot like the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or a specific neighborhood youth league.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you have a loved one whose obituary was recently published in the Post-Gazette, download it now. Don't just trust that the link will work forever. While Legacy.com usually keeps pages "permanent," the closure of the parent newspaper can sometimes lead to broken links or archived pages that are harder to find. Go to the page, right-click, and "Save as PDF." Or better yet, print a physical copy.
If you're searching for someone and can't find them, try searching just by the funeral home. Many Pittsburgh funeral homes—like John A. Freyvogel Sons or Savolskis-Wasik-Glenn—post the full text of the obituaries on their own websites for free. Often, these are more detailed than what the family paid to put in the paper anyway.
The era of the "Daily PG Obits" is winding down. It’s the end of a long, local tradition. But the stories themselves—the lives of the people who built this city—those aren't going anywhere as long as we keep the records ourselves.
Next Steps for Families:
- Archive existing notices: Save PDF copies of any digital memorials currently hosted on the PG site.
- Check the Tribune-Review: Start familiarizing yourself with the TribLive obituary section, as it will likely become the primary source for the region after May.
- Use Funeral Home Sites: Always check the specific funeral home’s website for the most complete (and free) version of a life story.