Obituary Indexes Orlando Newspapers 1949-1991

Obituaries, Death Notices, Funeral Notices and Articles

Obituaries, death notices, funeral notices and articles published on the Obituary page of the local Orlando newspaper give a daily glimpse into the lives of people who, at least in death, became part of the history and memory of Orlando and Central Florida.

Iacovitti Family

Many tug at your heart and pique your curiosity, like the entry for five members of the Iacovitti family in the 1952 index. My curiosity finally got the better of me, and I had to know what happened to this family. If you are curious, too, peruse clippings under Images and Documents, at the end of this post.

Indexing Obits in Local Orlando Newspapers

Between 1949 and 1991 library staff members recorded the name, age, date, and page number of obituaries, death notices, funeral notices, and articles published on the obituary page of the local Orlando newspaper creating an Obituary Index, usually just referred to as an Obit Index.

Staff created a notebook for each year, and entries were added each time an obituary, death notice, funeral notice or article about a deceased person was published on the obituary page of the local newspaper. Articles reporting deaths on other pages of the newspaper are not recorded in these indexes.

These genealogical treasures in newspapers are not as common as in years past, and tributes published on Funeral Home sites do not remain there forever. Cognizant of this trend, the Orange County Library System created EPOCH – Electronically Preserving Obituaries as Cultural Heritage. At EpochLegacies.org you could post an obituary / tribute with images and others could add their comments / memories to your tribute.

The library’s efforts to preserve the history found in obituaries for future generations began in 1949 with pen and paper and continued with EpochLegacies.org. The EpochLegacies.org site is frozen at this time, and the obituaries will be migrated to OrlandoMemory.org at a future date. We will update this post when that transition has been completed.

Locating Obituaries

As you peruse the obituary indexes, remember that errors may exist. Check the Florida Death Index or Social Security Death Index to verify the date and place of death and check the microfilm or online Orlando Sentinel Digital Microfilm, just in case your ancestor’s name was missed or entered incorrectly. 

If you would like to receive a copy of an obituary or death notice published in the Orlando newspaper, you have a number of options. 

1. You may use the microfilm at the Orlando Public Library in downtown Orlando or, if you have a library card with the Orange County Library System, you may use the online Orlando Sentinel Digital Microfilm collection at www.ocls.org. If the death took place prior to 1982, use ADVANCED SEARCH to access newspapers from 1911. 

2. If you reside in Orange County and have a valid OCLS library card and would like staff to send you a digital copy of an obituary by email. Just call 407.835.7323 with the deceased’s name, age, and date of death. Processing fee may apply.

3. If you do not live in Orange County or if you reside in the Maitland or Winter Park city limits, call the same number and library staff can send you a digital image for $30 per half hour. 

Obituary Indexes

1949 index

1950 index

1951 index

1952 index

1953 index

1954 index

1955 index

1956 index

1957 index

1958 index

1959 index

1960 index

1961 index

1962 index

1963 index

1964 index

1965 index

1966 index *** Missed names were added at a later date in long hand on the reverse of some pages. If you do not see your ancestors name where you would expect to find it by date, please go ahead or back a page or two to check for added names.

1967 index ***Abbreviations OES – Orlando Evening Sentinel and OS – Orlando Sentinel indicate edition of the daily paper in which the obituary was published. It is likely that the obituary was also published in other editions, but if not found, be sure to check the edition noted.

1968 index

1969 index

1970 index *** Many handwritten corrections throughout. Some entries made on back of pages. If you do not see the person you are seeking at the date you expect, go forward or back a page or two. Please see note in “W” section: Missing June – December.

1971 index*** Many handwritten insertions and corrections on the reverse of some pages. If you do not find your ancestor where you would expect them to be based on date of death, look a page before or after.

1972 index *** Some handwritten insertions and corrections on the reverse of some pages. If you do not find your ancestor where you would expect them to be based on date of death, look a page before or after.

1973 index  *** Note in front of binder indicates names may be missing for newspapers published on October 8, 9, 10.

1974 index *** No “I” surnames found in the index. Hand written additions throughout and on the reverse of some pages. If you do not find your ancestor where you would expect them to be based on date of death, look a page before or after.

1975 index*** No “I” surnames found in the index. Hand written additions throughout and on the reverse of some pages. If you do not find you ancestor where you would expect them to be based on date of death, look a page before or after.

1976 index

1977 index

1978 index *** NOTE: Surnames beginning with “N” – Missing January – June pages.

1979 index

1980 index

1981 index

1982 index***NOTE: Surnames beginning with “G” – Missing December 10-31.

Check the Florida Death Index to verify date/place of death and  go to the microfilm of the Orlando Newspaper to look for obituary or death notice.

1983 index Surnames A-R —– S-Z

1984 index Surnames A-N —– O-Z

1985 index Surnames A-L —– M-Z

1986 index Surnames A-L —– M-Z

1987 index Surnames A-H —– I-M  —–  N-Z

1988 index Surnames A-I —– J-N —– O-R —– S-Z

1989 index Surnames A-I —– J-N —– O-R —– S-Z

1990 index Surnames A-H —– I-M —– N-Z

1991 index Surnames A-L —– M-Z