Losing someone in a tight-knit community like the Adirondack region isn't just a private family matter; it's a piece of local history moving from the present into the past. Honestly, if you’ve lived around Glens Falls, Queensbury, or Hudson Falls for any length of time, you know that checking the Post Star obituaries today is a morning ritual for thousands. It’s how we keep track of the neighbors we grew up with and the teachers who yelled at us in 1994.
But searching for these records has become surprisingly complicated. Everything’s digital now, and if you don't know exactly where to click, you'll end up stuck in a loop of paywalls and outdated links. It's frustrating. You just want to find the service times for a friend, and suddenly you're being asked for a subscription or directed to a generic national site that doesn't have the local flavor of the North Country.
The Reality of Finding Recent Notices
People often think that every death in the region automatically appears in the newspaper the next morning. That’s not how it works anymore. There’s a lag. Sometimes a significant one.
Today, January 16, 2026, the listings reflect a mix of very recent passings and those from a week ago. For example, recent entries include William R. Farr, a 94-year-old from Falconer who passed away just a few days ago on January 13. Then you have names like Donald Douglas Dowling Jr. and Samuel G. Pantall Jr., both of whom left us on January 14.
If you're looking for someone who passed away within the last 24 hours, they might not be there yet. Families and funeral homes usually need at least 48 hours to get the text finalized and submitted.
Why the Location Matters
The Post-Star covers a massive, rugged geographic footprint. We’re talking about Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga counties. This means you’ll see a lot of variation in the "hometowns" listed.
- Glens Falls & Queensbury: These are the hub. Most notices here come through big local names like Singleton Sullivan Potter or Baker Funeral Home.
- Hudson Falls & Fort Edward: You’ll frequently see long-time residents like Leonard Measeck, who recently passed at the age of 99. These obituaries often read like a "who's who" of 20th-century local industry, mentioning the old paper mills or Ciba-Geigy.
- The Lakes: Entries from Lake George, Whitehall, or Ticonderoga often surface a few days later because of the travel distance for family members coordinating services.
Digital vs. Print: Where to Look First
Don’t just wait for the paper to hit the driveway. Most people get this wrong—they think the print version is the "official" record. In reality, the digital database at Legacy.com (which partners with the Post-Star) usually updates in real-time.
If you are searching for Post Star obituaries today, your best bet is the online portal. It allows you to filter by the last 24 hours, the last week, or even by specific funeral homes.
Interestingly, some families are opting for "Death Notices" instead of full obituaries. A full story can cost hundreds of dollars. A death notice is basically just the facts: name, age, date of death, and service location. If you’re searching for a name and can’t find a long story, look for the "Notices" section. It’s shorter but contains the vital info you actually need to attend a wake.
Surprising Details in Recent Records
Lately, there’s been a shift in how these are written. They aren't just dry lists of survivors anymore.
Take the recent notice for Rebecca Joanne "Becky" Sischo, who passed on January 12. The write-up didn't just say she worked at Bush Industries; it described her as a "spirited, feisty Irish girl." This kind of color is becoming more common. People want the world to know their loved one’s personality, not just their resume.
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We also see a lot of "Out of Area" listings. People who grew up in Glens Falls but retired to Florida or South Carolina—like Stephanie Pattee, who recently passed in Summerville, SC—often have their obituaries placed in the Post-Star because this is where their "people" are.
How to Submit or Find an Older Record
If you’re the one tasked with writing one of these, it’s a heavy lift. The Post-Star usually requires submissions to come through a funeral home to verify the death. However, you can technically do it yourself by contacting their "Obit Desk" directly.
For the researchers and genealogists out there, searching for Post Star obituaries today is easy, but finding something from 1985 is a different beast. For that, you’ll need the Crandall Public Library’s microfilm or a specialized archive like GenealogyBank. Most of the digital stuff you see on the main website only goes back to the early 2000s.
What to Do Next
If you are currently looking for a specific person and they aren't appearing in today's listings, don't panic. Check the websites of the local funeral homes directly—places like Carleton Funeral Home in Hudson Falls or M.B. Kilmer in South Glens Falls often post the details on their own "Tribute" walls before the newspaper even gets the file.
- Check the local funeral home site first. They are the source of the data.
- Wait for the 48-hour window. If the death occurred yesterday, the obituary likely won't be public until tomorrow or the day after.
- Search by maiden names. In our region, many people are still known by their family names from decades ago.
- Use the Legacy.com "Notify Me" feature. You can set an alert for a specific surname so you don't have to keep refreshing the page.
Navigating loss is hard enough. Finding the information shouldn't be. By checking both the official Post-Star portal and the individual funeral home listings, you'll get the most accurate, up-to-the-minute information available in the North Country.