Janet~ You are on target re: the use of obits in the late 19th century. They cost money which the poor immigrant didn't have. Also, people lived in ethnic neighborhoods throughout Cleveland. Word of mouth was a more reliable source of information and many of the immigrants were illiterate. The people who needed to know of a passing, were living quite close to the church and residence. Much of the time, the wake was held in the home of the deceased or a close relative. I remember the black wreaths and bunting on homes in St. Patrick's parish when I was a child. In 1948 my grandfather was waked in his home on W 47th. My Gran sat by the coffin throughout the night or some other female relative was there to let her rest. Mary Ellen Chambers