### How to Search the Online Directory When you visit the official website, navigate to the "Obituaries" or "All Obituaries" section. The site features a user-friendly database designed to help you locate listings quickly: * **Name Search:** You can type the first or last name of the deceased into the search bar. If you are unsure of the spelling, try entering just the first few letters of the last name to broaden the search results. * **Date Filters:** If you do not know the exact spelling of a name but know when the passing occurred, you can filter the listings by month and year. * **Alphabetical Sorting:** The directory allows you to browse alphabetically by the deceased's last name, which is helpful if you are looking for multiple members of the same family. ### Information Available on Individual Tribute Pages Once you locate and click on a specific obituary, you will access a dedicated memorial page. These pages typically feature: * **The Full Obituary:** A detailed biography highlighting the individual's life, career, family survivors, and preceding deaths. * **Service Details:** Clear instructions regarding the dates, times, and locations for visitations, funeral services, and burials. * **The Tribute Wall:** A public space where friends and family can post condolences, share personal memories, and upload photos. * **Grief Support and Flower Ordering:** Direct links to local florists to send arrangements to the service or the family's home, as well as options to plant memorial trees. ## Local Newspaper Archives If the obituary is not listed on the funeral home's website—which can happen with older records—local newspapers are the next best resource. Shorac Funeral Home regularly publishes obituary notices in local print and digital publications.
### The Herald-Star As the primary daily newspaper serving Steubenville and the surrounding Ohio Valley, *The Herald-Star* publishes local obituaries daily. You can search their online obituary section, which is often hosted in partnership with national databases like Legacy.com. This allows you to search archives dating back several years. ### Regional Media Outlets For residents of the wider Steubenville-Weirton metropolitan area, obituaries may also be cross-listed in nearby West Virginia publications, such as the *Weirton Daily Times* or the *Wheeling Intelligencer*, depending on where the deceased's family resides. ## Finding Historical and Genealogical Records If you are searching for a Shorac Funeral Home obituary from several decades ago, the record may no longer be active on the funeral home's current website. In these cases, historical research methods are required.
### The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County The local library system is an invaluable resource for local history. The Schiappa Branch in Steubenville houses extensive local history and genealogy departments. Here, you can access: * **Microfilm Archives:** Physical microfilm of *The Herald-Star* and older local papers dating back to the 19th century. * **Digital Databases:** Library cardholders often get free access to databases like Ancestry.com (Library Edition) and HeritageQuest. * **Local Indexes:** Volunteer-created indexes of local birth, marriage, and death records. ### Online Genealogy Databases Websites like Find a Grave, FamilySearch, and USGenWeb often feature transcribed obituaries and headstone photos from Steubenville cemeteries, such as Union Cemetery or Mount Calvary Cemetery. Many of these listings reference Shorac Funeral Home as the handling director. ## Contacting the Funeral Home Directly If your online search yields no results, or if you need to verify specific details for an upcoming service, contacting the funeral home directly is the most reliable option.
When calling, it is helpful to have the full name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. The staff can assist you in locating archival records or confirming service details that may not have been published online due to privacy requests.
