Python Example for RSS Parsing:

import feedparser
import pandas as pd

# Fetch and parse the RSS feed
feed_url = "https://www.post-gazette.com/rss/"
feed = feedparser.parse(feed_url)

# Filter entries containing "obituary" (case-insensitive)
obituaries = [entry for entry in feed.entries if "obituary" in entry.title.lower()]

# Convert to DataFrame for analysis
df = pd.DataFrame([{
"title": entry.title,
"link": entry.link,
"published": entry.published
} for entry in obituaries])

print(df.head())

JavaScript Example for Web Scraping (Node.js):

const axios = require('axios');
const cheerio = require('cheerio');

async function scrapeObituaries() {
try {
const response = await axios.get('https://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/');
const $ = cheerio.load(response.data);
const obituaries = [];

// Adjust selector based on actual HTML structure
$('.obituary-item').each((i, el) => {
obituaries.push({
title: $(el).find('.title').text().trim(),
date: $(el).find('.date').text().trim(),
link: $(el).find('a').attr('href')
});
});

console.log(obituaries);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Scraping error:', error.message);
}
}

scrapeObituaries();

Archiving Obituaries for Offline Use

Screenshots with Annotations

PDF Export via Browser Tools

Text Extraction and OCR for Printed Archives

from pdf2image import convert_from_path
import pytesseract
import re

# Convert PDF to images
images = convert_from_path('obituaries.pdf')

for img in images:
text = pytesseract.image_to_string(img)

Extract names using regex

Automated Monitoring with Google Alerts and News Aggregators

Google Alert Setup
1. Navigate to Google Alerts.
2. Enter search terms such as:

Feedly RSS Aggregator Configuration
1. Add the Post-Gazette RSS feed (`https://www.post-gazette.com/rss/`) to Feedly.
2. Create a custom search within Feedly:

Designing a Local Obituary Database

CSV Database Template (Columns and Example Data)

Mastering the navigation of Post-Gazette obituaries transcends mere data retrieval—it becomes a tool for storytelling, demographic analysis, and cultural preservation. By systematically categorizing listings, cross-referencing with archival articles, and harnessing technical methods like APIs or automated alerts, researchers and individuals alike can uncover trends, honor legacies, and document Pittsburgh’s ever-changing tapestry. The intersection of technology and tradition in these records ensures that every obituary, when examined closely, contributes to a broader narrative of memory and continuity.

From the structured tables of yesterday’s deceased to the geographic and professional insights they yield, the Post-Gazette obituaries section stands as both a historical archive and a dynamic resource. Equipped with the right methods—whether manual curation or programmatic extraction—readers can transform fleeting notices into enduring knowledge, bridging the past and present with clarity and purpose.