Obituaries Archives - The Martha's Vineyard Times (2024)

FAQs

How do I find an old obituary in MA? ›

Obituaries in Massachusetts and other parts of New England can generally be found in the local town or county papers. Many obituaries for Boston and the surrounding area can be found in: Boston Athenaeum. Index of Obituaries in Boston Newspapers, 1704-1800.

Since our founding in 1984, The Martha's Vineyard Times has become the Island's most widely read newspaper for year-round Islanders, long-term summer residents, and Vineyard visitors, with an average circulation of approximately 15,000 copies each week.

Internet Public Library – Finding Obituaries – An updated guide on searching for obituaries. Legacy.com – This site allows you to search for recently published obituaries, a small fee is required to view most results. Obituary Central – A database that searches for obituaries and performs cemetery searches.

Death records beginning in 1921 to the present are located at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The MDPH maintains no online index for these records.

Massachusetts State Law: "Chapter 46: Return and Registry of Births, Marriages, and Deaths" states death records are public records. "Death certificates are public record, so any member of the public can obtain a copy at the city or town clerk's office where the death occurred."

Barack and Michelle Obama

The most famous people who live on Martha's Vineyard are Barack and Michele Obama. It's no secret that presidents have a soft spot for Martha's Vineyard. Ever since the Kennedys (and before that, even!), Martha's Vineyard became known as a presidential hangout.

Thought to be named after a British explorer's daughter, Martha's Vineyard has been a popular summer destination for America's wealthy elite for more than a century.

By the mid-1950s Oak Bluffs had become a full-blown Black resort, drawing guests from all over the country. The town beach acquired the nickname “Inkwell” or “Inkwell Beach,” which may have started as a derogatory epithet but was later reclaimed by African American residents.

Legacy.com hosts obituaries for more than three-quarters of the 100 largest newspapers in the U.S., by circulation. The site attracts more than 30 million unique visitors per month and is among the top 40 trafficked websites in the world. Legacy Inc. Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary? ›

Death notices are short and to the point—Name, date of death and where/when the services will be held. However, the obituaries highlight the deceased's community involvement, accomplishments, interests and survivor's names of the beloved.

The Registry of Vital Records (RVRS) preserves Massachusetts vital records for documentation and research. You can request certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records that are open to the public.

Death certificates are public record, and can be requested by anyone at the city or town clerks office.

It's never too late to write it. When you feel the time is right to publish the obituary, coordinate with the funeral home or service provider for the announcement.

When writing an obituary for a woman who had a maiden name, simply write her first name and then in parentheses write her maiden name and then her married last name. For instance, Laura (Ingalls) Wilder, Marie (Sklodowska) Curie or Julia (McWilliams) Childs.