To return to the "Genealogy in St. Louis" Web Site click here.

Send comments to Dave Lossos at [email protected]

As many of you, I faithfully look at the obits in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch every day, trying to spot someone I know. With the increasing death count from the COVID-19 pandemic I would have thought that the number of obits would have increased. Recently a very prominent physician that I went to high school with passed away. His obit never showed up.

So I decided to do a little investigation. I’ve found that there are 155 funeral homes in the St. Louis Metro area. I picked eleven of them (or 7%), and went to their websites. I recorded all of the burials/cremations at these funeral homes that occurred so far in April 2020. Turns out that number was 137 deaths. If that is truly only 7% of St. Louis’s death then it’s possible that we’ve had nearly 2000 deaths. Needless to say, I haven’t seen 2000 obits in the last three weeks in the Post.

The obvious answer is that a small percentage of deaths have obits publishes in the newspaper. Could be cost, could be any numbers of reasons. But is seems obvious (to me anyway) that we are informed of far less than occur.

BTW, the funeral homes I picked were Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home (3 locations), St. Louis Cremation (3 locations), Kutis Funeral homes (3 locations) and Valhalla Funeral Chapel.

39 Betty M.                            Arbuthnot Apr 3, 2020                          https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

119 Arline (nee Fromm)        Aurin Apr 3, 2020                                 https://www.schrader.com/

39 Sheila "Joyce"                   Benton Apr 12, 2020                             https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Shirley(nee Finklang)        Bialczak, April 11, 2020                       Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Linda                               Bibbs April 2, 2020                               https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

119 Betty                                Blank April 14, 2020                             https://www.schrader.com/

74 Doris M. (Nee Pennick)    Bozich, April 9, 2020                            Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Bruce R.                            Braswell, April 9th, 2020                      Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

41 Shirley Ann                       Bryant Apr 7, 2020                               https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

128 William                           Capers April 8, 2020                             https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

119 Mary Jane(nee Harrison) Carlson Apr 19, 2020                            https://www.schrader.com/

74 Catherine (Nee Thomure) Carroll, April 17, 2020.                         Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Phyllis                             Carson April 13, 2020                           https://www.schrader.com/

74 Paul L.                               Coates April 18, 2020                           https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Wayne A.                          Cook, April 15, 2020                            Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Pauline M.                         Cummins, April 16, 2020                      Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Wilma (nee Lachenicht)  Dahlgren April 15, 2020                       https://www.schrader.com/

128 Marilyn                            Dalton April 4, 2020                             https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

141 Kristen                             Davis, Apr 05, 2020                              Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

128 Evelyn Hetzer                  Dennis April 15 2020                            https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

128 Dale                                 Dill April 15, 2020                                https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Elizabeth (Nee Jacobson)  Donnelly, April 17, 2020                      Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Catherine J. (Nee Coons)  Dunn-fitzgerald, April 15, 2020            Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 George Thomas                 Dye April 18, 2020                               https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 James                               East April 16, 2020                               https://www.schrader.com/

119 Anne                                East April 13, 2020                               https://www.schrader.com/

74 Rita Faye                           Eddy, April 12, 2020                             Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Dewayne                           Edington, April 16, 2020                      Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Pandi                                 Efthim, April 18, 2020                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

39 Barbara A.                         Endicott-Varner Apr 09, 2020              https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Ronald J.                           Faszold, April 16, 2020                         Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Donna Cash                     Fawcett April 10, 2020                          https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

119 Wilbert                            Fink  April 20 2020                               https://www.schrader.com/

141 Colin                                Forbes Apr 08, 2020                             Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

128 Michael                           Francis April 6, 2020                            https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

128 Mary Jane                        Fritz April 11, 2020                               https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

141 John J. Van                      Gels, Apr 12, 2020                                Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

41 Edward Frederick              Geske Apr 12, 2020                              https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

119 Jay                                   Goble Apr 5, 2020                                 https://www.schrader.com/

128 Christine                          Gold April 13, 2020                              https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

119 Charles                            Good Apr 15, 2020                               https://www.schrader.com/

141 Kathurne J.                      Gray, Apr 09, 2020                               Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

41 Donna M.                          Hallows Apr 13, 2020                           https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Timothy S.                         Handley April 18, 2020                         https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Donald D.                          Heitz, April 14, 2020                             Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

39 Michael "Mike" S.             Henkhaus Apr 14, 2020                        https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Brenda E.                           Hessel April 19, 2020                            https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Elizabeth                           Horine, April 13, 2020                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Fern (nee Hartmann)       Irwin April 9, 2020                               https://www.schrader.com/

119 Robert                              Jobe April 8, 2020                                 https://www.schrader.com/

119 Lester                               Kaempfe April 11 2020                         https://www.schrader.com/

39 Doyle                                 Karr Apr 01, 2020                                 https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Barbara (nee Chapman)    Kendall, April 15, 2020                         https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Royce                              Kertz April 2, 2020                               https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

119 Bob                                  Kilwin April 9, 2020                             https://www.schrader.com/

128 Aidan James                    Klenc April 8, 2020                               https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

128 Jason                                Koesel April 8, 2020                             https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Arthur E.                           Korn, April 13, 2020                             Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Margaret Mary                  Kovarik April 14, 2020                         https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Phillip J.                            Kramper, April 14, 2020                       Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Helen(nee Kaiser)           Kraus April 11, 2020                             https://www.schrader.com/

74 Gwendolyn (nee Ahrens) Lang, April 12, 2020                             Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 John                                 Larson April 7, 2020                             https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Mary C.                             Louis, April 9, 2020                              Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Paul                                 Manion April 2, 2020                            https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Daniel A.                           Maurer, April 12, 2020                        Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Leona M. (nee Klink)        May April 18, 2020                               https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Sally (nee Parizzian)       McCarthy April 10/2020                       https://www.schrader.com/

119 Phillip                              McCord April 14, 2020                         https://www.schrader.com/

128 John M.                           McGrath April 12, 2020                        https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Ursula (Nee Edmueller)    Milla, April 15, 2020 *                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Gail (nee Elliott)              Morgan April 12, 2020                         https://www.schrader.com/

74 Janet (Nee Yanko)             Mueller April 11, 2020                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Alexander S.                      Musial, April 11, 2020                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

141 Katharine A.                    Newberry, Apr 11, 2020                       Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

74 Thomas E.                         Niedbalski, April 13, 2020                    Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Virgie L.                            Novosak, April 8, 2020                         Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Mary C. (nee Bardgett)     Paasch April 15, 2020                           https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

141 Beverly F.                        Pauluhn Apr 09, 2020                           Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

74 Mary Virginia                    Petersen, April 10, 2020                        Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Donald                             Phillips April 17, 2020                          https://www.schrader.com/

119 Dr. Joseph                       Pille, Sr. April 19, 2020                        https://www.schrader.com/

119 Marilyn                            Proffer Apr 3, 2020                               https://www.schrader.com/

128 Robert                              Rapp, April 8, 2020                               https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

141 Paul S.                             Rathmell, Apr 15, 2020                         Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

128 Shelby                             Ravellette April 6, 2020                        https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

119 Vernon                             Recker April 11,2020                            https://www.schrader.com/

74 Arnette M. (Laury)            Reeg, April 11, 2020 *                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Adele H. (Nee Liermann)  Reynolds, April 13, 2020                      Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Shirley (Nee Weathers)     Rice, April 10, 2020                              Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Barbara                            Richards April 6, 2020                          https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Patricia Louise                   Ries April 18, 2020                               https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Virgil                                 Rodgers, April 12, 2020                        Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Bobbie D.                          Roth, April 13, 2020                             Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

41 Bryon Eugene                    Sackett Apr 06, 2020                             https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

119 Rev. Sabi                         Sarkissyian April 17, 2020                    https://www.schrader.com/

74 Beverly Barbara                Schwartz, April 11, 2020                      Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Jack                                 Sheridan, M.D. April 5, 2020                https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

128 John Louis                       Sigmund April 10, 2020                        https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 Dennis W.                         Smith April 18th, 2020                         Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Glenn                               Smith April 10, 2020                             https://www.schrader.com/

128 Darren                             Spires April 6, 2020                              https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

141 William A.                       Stack, Apr 03, 2020                              Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

74 Marilyn “Rhodie”              Starks, April 10, 2020                           Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 John M.                             Stevens, April 5, 2020                           Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

128 Minnie                             Steward April 13, 2020                         https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

74 June Marie                         Stewart, April 13, 2020                         Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 William                           Stewart Jr. April 13, 2020                     https://www.schrader.com/

74 Marie E.                             Strayhorn, April 10, 2020                     Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Ivan T.                               Streckfuss, April 16th, 2020                 Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Mary Ellen (nee Pavlik)  Swift Apr 18, 2020                                https://www.schrader.com/

74 Mary L. (nee Pfiffner)       Tabash April 17, 2020                           https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

119 Robert                              Tabernacki Apr 8, 2020                        https://www.schrader.com/

39 Phyllis "Wiggy"                Walker Apr 17, 2020                             https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

128 Lee G.                              Wall April 7, 2020                                https://stlouiscremation.com/obituary-listings/

39 Bernadine W.                    Watsek Apr 02, 2020                            https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Carole L. (Nee Bickel)      Webb, April 16, 2020                            Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

141 Corey N.                          Webster, Apr 12, 2020                          Https://www.valhallafunerals.net/

119 Anice (nee Stanley)         Wells April 10, 2020                             https://www.schrader.com/

74 Eric J.                                Wierschem, April 11, 2020                   Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

74 Robert W.                          Woods, April 11, 2020                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/

41 Judith Ann                         Wreath Apr 05, 2020                             https://www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com/obituaries/

74 Robert S.                           Ziegler, April 14, 2020                          Https://www.kutisfuneralhomes.com/