{"id":11101,"date":"2015-07-23T11:00:39","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T15:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=11101"},"modified":"2024-03-08T14:02:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T19:02:45","slug":"truly-personal-obituaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/truly-personal-obituaries.html","title":{"rendered":"Truly Personal Obituaries from the Recent Obituary Archives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: Duncan Kuehn is a professional genealogist with over nine years of client experience. She has worked on several well-known projects, such as \u201cWho Do You Think You Are?\u201d In this blog post, Duncan searches GenealogyBank\u2019s recent obituaries collection and discoveries some truly interesting \u2013 and sometimes funny \u2013 passages in some of these obituaries.<\/em><\/p>\n

Writing an obituary can be a painful and unexpected event. It can also be a healing one. More and more families are rejecting a dry, formulated writing style for their loved one\u2019s obituary, taking instead a more personalized approach. It is challenging to compact a person\u2019s life into a few lines. It is even more difficult to try to convey that person\u2019s unique sense of being onto the printed page. Here are some marvelous examples of more personalized obituaries; I found these while browsing in GenealogyBank\u2019s Recent Obituary Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"passage<\/a><\/p>\n

Humorous Life Philosophy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes an obituary shares a person\u2019s philosophy.<\/p>\n

Donna Smith\u2019s obituary passed on this humorous life philosophy:<\/p>\n

Do what\u2019s right and do what\u2019s good. Be kind and help others. The world can always use one more kind person. And if you can take it one step further, please do it for people grandpa\u2019s age.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Donna Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah), 18 December 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jokes Help<\/strong><\/p>\n

The family, or even the person themselves, may try to lighten up the situation by making a joke.<\/p>\n

In his obituary, Aaron Joseph Purmorts\u2019s family stated that he:<\/p>\n

died peacefully at home on November 25 after complications from a radioactive spider bite that led to years of crime-fighting and a years long battle with a nefarious criminal named Cancer, who has plagued our society for far too long. Civilians will recognize him best as Spider-Man, and thank him for his many years of service protecting our city. His family knew him only as a kind and mild-mannered Art Director, a designer of websites and t-shirts, and concert posters who always had the right cardigan and the right thing to say (even if it was wildly inappropriate).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Aaron Joseph Purmort<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Star Tribune Obituary (Minneapolis, Minnesota), 30 November 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unusual Final Requests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Others leave behind unusual requests in their obituaries.<\/p>\n

B. H. Spratt\u2019s family suggested:<\/p>\n

In lieu of flowers, tune-up your car and check the air pressure in your tires \u2013 he would have wanted that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

B. H. Spratt<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida), 23 October 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lisa Schomburger Steven\u2019s family asked:<\/p>\n

that you spend time with your children, take a walk on the beach with your loved ones and make a toast to enduring friendships lifelong and beyond. That is what Lisa would wish for you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lisa Schomburger Stevens<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), 19 December 2005<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tom Taylor Jr.\u2019s family stated:<\/p>\n

One of his last requests to his good friend Scott, was to contact the Cremation Society to ask for a refund because he knew he weighed at least 20 percent less than when he paid for his arrangements.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thomas J. Taylor Jr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Sun News (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina), 27 August 2008<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tom Brady Fan<\/strong><\/p>\n

To make an obituary more personal, family members sometimes add a line about a person\u2019s passions or strongly held beliefs.<\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Massachusetts), 24 May 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patricia\u2019s defense of Tom Brady put a smile on everyone\u2019s face, as reported at the end of her obituary.<\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Massachusetts), 24 May 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another Football Fan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Sven Vedvik\u2019s family did their best to lighten things up by saying in his obituary:<\/p>\n

We blame the Seahawks lousy play call for Mike\u2019s untimely demise. Mike was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Michael Sven Vedvik<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington), 5 February 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Dog Ate It<\/strong><\/p>\n

Norma Brewer\u2019s obituary contained this humorous remark:<\/p>\n

Norma Rae Flicker Brewer, a resident of Fairfield, passed away while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. She never realized her life goal of reaching the summit, but made it to the base camp. Her daughter, Donna, her dog, Mia, and her cats, came along at the last minute. There is suspicion that Mrs. Brewer died from hypothermia, after Mia ate Mrs. Brewer\u2019s warm winter boots and socks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Norma Brewer<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, Connecticut), 31 January 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Losing a loved one is never easy. Helping others to see that person the way you did can help ease your sorrow at their passing. You may even consider helping your family out by writing your own obituary!<\/p>\n

Do you have a touching or funny obituary you\u2019ve come across in your genealogy research? If so please share your obituary finds with us in the comments.<\/p>\n

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