California, Fresno and Napa Counties, Obituaries - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes obituaries from 1974-1997. It contains an index and images to obituaries from Fresno and Napa Counties. Napa is the more northern of the two counties.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Obituaries
 * Name and age of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Occupation and residence
 * Names of surviving family members
 * Cause of death
 * Date, place and time of funeral services or burial

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of death
 * The names of other other relatives

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Use the information found in the record to find probate records
 * Use the information found in the record to find land and property
 * Search for death or burial information in BillionGraves Index
 * If applicable, search for immigration and naturalization records as well

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of California.
 * California Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.