Standard-Times Obituaries: Search, History, And Submission Guide For 2026

Disambiguation Note: This guide addresses the two primary metropolitan newspapers sharing this name: the New Bedford Standard-Times (serving the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts) and the San Angelo Standard-Times (serving the Concho Valley region of West Texas). Both publications are owned by Gannett and partner with Legacy.com for digital memorial hosting.

Locating historical records or publishing a memorial notice for a loved one requires navigating distinct regional databases and publication guidelines. As local news media continues to centralize in 2026, understanding the precise mechanisms of the New Bedford Standard-Times and the San Angelo Standard-Times is critical for genealogists, funeral directors, and grieving families.

This comprehensive technical guide outlines how to search current and historical obituaries, submit new notices, compare publication options, and resolve common digital archival access issues.

Accessing Modern and Historical Obituaries by Region

While both newspapers share a parent company, their historical archives and physical resources reside in different geographic regions. Finding the exact record you need depends on leveraging the correct localized digital portal or physical repository.

The New Bedford Standard-Times (SouthCoast, Massachusetts)

The New Bedford Standard-Times covers Bristol and Plymouth counties, including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, Westport, and Freetown.

For recent notices published within the last few years, the primary digital portal is integrated directly with Legacy.com. Historical research dating back to the newspaper's founding in the 19th century requires secondary archival databases:

• Digital Archives (Post-2001): Available online through the newspaper's official website under the obituary section, indexed by search engines and cross-referenced on global genealogy platforms.
• Microfilm Records (1844–Present): Located at the New Bedford Free Public Library (613 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA 02740). The library's Special Collections department houses physical microfilm rolls of the Daily Dartmouth Gazette, New Bedford Mercury, and the Standard-Times.
• Online News Index: The library maintains an online local history index that catalogs obituary citations, simplifying the process of finding specific microfilm roll numbers.

The San Angelo Standard-Times (Concho Valley, West Texas)

Serving Tom Green County and the broader Concho Valley region of West Texas, the San Angelo Standard-Times preserves the history of communities such as San Angelo, Ballinger, Brady, Eldorado, and Sonora.

• Digital Archives (Post-1999): Hosted via the newspaper’s regional digital domain and syndicated to major national obituary databases.
• Microfilm and Local History Collections: The Stephens Central Library (Tom Green County Library System, 33 W Beaumont Dr, San Angelo, TX 76903) maintains microfilm archives of the paper dating back to its late 19th-century origins as the San Angelo Standard.
• West Texas Collection: Located at Angelo State University (ASU), this specialized archive holds historical local newspapers, family papers, and regional directories valuable for genealogical cross-referencing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting an Obituary in 2026

Submitting a memorial notice to either publication involves navigating Gannett’s standardized media ingestion platform. While most submissions are handled directly by licensed funeral homes, families opting for private submission must undergo verification to prevent unauthorized listings.

Step 1: Draft the Text and Select Assets

Begin by writing the notice, ensuring you have all critical biographical details, service information, and preferred charitable organizations for donations.

• Prepare a high-resolution portrait photograph. Modern digital systems accept JPEG or PNG formats with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
• Limit the use of complex formatting or emojis, as these can fail to render correctly in print columns.

Step 2: Choose Your Submission Path

You can submit through one of two primary pathways:

1. Funeral Home Submission: This is the most efficient method. Licensed funeral directors utilize a dedicated business-to-business portal (such as Memoriams) to submit notices directly. The newspaper prioritizes these submissions, and the billing is handled through the funeral home's established account.
2. Private Family Submission: If you are not utilizing a funeral home, you must submit via the online self-service portal provided on the newspaper's website.

Step 3: Verification and Security Clearance

To maintain editorial integrity and prevent fraudulent postings, private submissions require verification. You must provide:

• The name and contact information of the handling funeral home, crematory, or anatomical donor program.
• A certified copy of the death certificate (if requested by the ad desk).
• A valid government-issued ID of the person placing the ad.

Step 4: Review Proofs and Secure Payment

Once the text is uploaded, the self-service system will generate a digital proof showing exactly how the notice will appear in the print edition and online. Review this proof carefully.

Proofreading Warning Pay close attention to dates, times, and spelling of family names. Once a print plate is set, errors cannot be corrected in the physical newspaper. Digital corrections online can take up to 24 to 48 hours to synchronize across partner networks.

After approving the proof, the system will calculate the final cost based on line count, photo inclusion, and the number of days the notice is scheduled to run. Payment must be completed via credit card before the daily editorial deadline (typically 2:00 PM EST for the New Bedford publication and 2:00 PM CST for San Angelo for the next day's print edition).

Comparing Print and Digital Obituary Offerings

Choosing the right package requires understanding the differences in reach, longevity, and cost between print and digital mediums. Below is a comparative analysis of standard publication options available in 2026.

Troubleshooting Digital Memorial Searches

If you are struggling to locate a specific historical or recent obituary, use these targeted diagnostic strategies to resolve search failures.

Problem 1: Name Variations and Spelling Discrepancies

Standard search engines can struggle with nicknames, middle names, or maiden names.

• Remedy: Utilize boolean search operators. For example, if searching for Margaret "Peggy" Smith (née Jones), search using queries like "Margaret Smith" AND "New Bedford" or "Peggy Jones" AND "San Angelo". Avoid typing long phrases; stick to unique surnames and known geographic locations.

Problem 2: Date Range Mismatches

Often, the date of publication does not match the date of death. It is common for an obituary to run three to seven days after a passing, or even weeks later if a memorial service is delayed.

• Remedy: Expand your digital search parameters to look for records up to thirty days after the estimated date of death. When using microfilm, search the physical issues for at least two weeks following the date of death.

Problem 3: Paywall Restraints and Digital Archival Gaps

Older digital records (specifically those published between 1990 and 2005) may fall into digital transition gaps where they are not fully indexed by modern search engine crawlers.

• Remedy: Access specialized databases like NewsBank, GenealogyBank, or Ancestry.com (often available for free via your local public library card login). These portals house dedicated text-only archives of the Standard-Times that bypass public search paywalls.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find recent obituaries in the New Bedford Standard-Times?

Recent obituaries can be accessed directly through the obituary portal on the New Bedford Standard-Times website, which is powered by Legacy.com. Users can search by first and last name, date range, and keywords. Additionally, print editions published daily contain the most recent notices in the classified or designated obituary sections.

What is the cost of publishing an obituary in the San Angelo Standard-Times?

The cost varies based on the length of the text, whether you include a photograph, and how many days the notice runs in print. A basic digital-only publication starts at a flat rate, while comprehensive print-and-digital bundles are priced based on the physical space (column inches) consumed. Accurate, real-time quotes are provided during the digital submission process before final payment.

Can I search historical Standard-Times obituaries for free?

Yes, historical searches can be conducted for free by visiting regional libraries in person. The New Bedford Free Public Library holds microfilm of the Massachusetts publication, while the Stephens Central Library houses physical and microfilm copies of the Texas publication. For digital access, local library cardholders can often log in to premium databases like NewsBank or regional historical databases from home without paying a fee.

How long does it take for a submitted obituary to appear online?

When submitted by a licensed funeral home, an online obituary can go live within a few hours of submission and approval. Private submissions may take up to 24 to 48 hours to appear online, as the newspaper's staff must manually verify the death certificate and contact the associated funeral home or crematory before releasing the notice for publication.

How can I edit an obituary that has already been published online?

To edit an online memorial hosted by Legacy.com via the Standard-Times, you must contact the newspaper's customer service or classified advertising department directly. If the notice was placed through a funeral home, the quickest resolution is to request that the funeral director submit the correction through their portal. Note that physical print editions cannot be edited once printed, but corrective notices can be scheduled for future print runs.

Securing and Preserving Local Legacies

Whether you are tracing your ancestry through the historic whalefishing communities of New Bedford or documenting the pioneers of the Concho Valley in San Angelo, historical obituaries are irreplaceable cultural touchstones. To ensure these records remain accurate and accessible for generations to come, coordinate closely with local archival institutions, verify spelling and dates before final publication, and utilize local library databases to explore the deep histories preserved within the pages of the Standard-Times.