Who would you want to be your pal barrers ?

[johnny k]

My first civilian job was writing the obits at the local newspaper. Nobody wanted the job, so I chose to be the "death guy". It was a miserable job, I tried to have some fun with it by "killing off" co-workers if they offended me with a nice little obit, but the worst thing was getting notices about people who died alone.

Always the same story, person discovered deceased in their home / apartment weeks later. I would contact their neighbors and nobody knew anything about the history...no family, no career information, hobbies, etc. The idea of being a ghost to others while still alive bothered me greatly, so I would work hard to research the person and give them some history in their obit. Some I was successful, some I was not. In the latter, I started to give them a little short bio (although fiction) so that their obit wasn't simply "Born, died, nobody cares".

I was fired 6 months later when somebody called to complain. I gave one poor soul a background as a railroad worker based on some train pictures found on the walls of his apartment. Some brass at the railroad objected to it when they were unable to find the guy listed in their records. I admitted that it was fiction, but I didn't see the harm. I simply said that the guy loved trains and spent much of his life working with them, so I didn't see any harm to it. I just wanted the guy to get a few lines in his obit.

I still don't feel bad about it actually.

When the fiction is better than the truth, print the fiction. I might need to write my own obit at some point.

 

[Milspec]

When the fiction is better than the truth, print the fiction. I might need to write my own obit at some point.

Actually, writing your own obit is a brilliant idea. Most people have no idea what to say nor what to include, so by writing your own you get the final last say on what it should say.

I think I will do that as well...great idea.

 

[johnny k]

Actually, writing your own obit is a brilliant idea. Most people have no idea what to say nor what to include, so by writing your own you get the final last say on what it should say.

I think I will do that as well...great idea.

Writing your own obit should be mandatory as soon as grade 4.

 

[brookdalebill]

Paul Barere, at your service!

RIP, and thanks, Paul.

 

[trev333]

Pal barrers?.... are they like those wives/girlfriends who don't like your old friends coming to visit and hanging out...

 

[Tommy Biggs]

Actually, writing your own obit is a brilliant idea. Most people have no idea what to say nor what to include, so by writing your own you get the final last say on what it should say.

I think I will do that as well...great idea.

I saw a newish book at the library today on that very topic! I picked it up and read the covers, but decided against it for now.

James R. Hagerty

Yours Truly: An Obituary Writer's Guide to Telling Your Story​

“In a surprisingly upbeat, heartfelt book about a serious subject, The Wall Street Journal’s veteran obituary writer, award-winning journalist James R. Hagerty, shares his unique skills with those who want to have the last word with flourish, honesty, and even humor. Whether in-brief for future newspapers and websites, or as a more complete mini-memoir for friends and family, Yours Truly is a guide to making sure your story is told the way you want – and how the process of preparing your own life story can help you live a better life.”

 

[Jared Purdy]

A the denver broncos
B My family they deserve that one
C no one i am going up in flames
D snoop dog, or keith .
E the dallas cowboys
F i won't care put me where i last stood. But bury me in my hawaiian shirt and pink suit.

Won't need to worry about that. Cremation. Better yet, dig a hole for me, through me in naked, put a tree on top. Perfect!!

 

[Chester P Squier]

When the fiction is better than the truth, print the fiction. I might need to write my own obit at some point.

Actually, writing your own obit is a brilliant idea. Most people have no idea what to say nor what to include, so by writing your own you get the final last say on what it should say.

I think I will do that as well...great idea.

My wife’s sister wrote her own. It was rather lengthy. She was an English teacher and could have been more concise, but she lived a long life, dying less than a month before her 86th birthday.

 

[ndcaster]

my sons
my brother
some pals

I just don't want it to be my Dad -- no son can want to be buried by his own father

I've seen that (RIP Tom), and it gutted me

 

[Milspec]

My wife’s sister wrote her own. It was rather lengthy. She was an English teacher and could have been more concise, but she lived a long life, dying less than a month before her 86th birthday.

Grammar is always important...right to the end for some

 

[Maguchi]

A the denver broncos
B My family they deserve that one
C no one i am going up in flames
D snoop dog, or keith .
E the dallas cowboys
F i won't care put me where i last stood. But bury me in my hawaiian shirt and pink suit.

Hmm, let's see. Keith Richards and Willie Nelson to start with...

 

[haggardfan1]

Donating my body to science, as my dad did. Cremation of any remains, and any significant others have instructions how to dispose of what's left of me.

Now, if I should have to be hospitalized with a good prognosis for any length of time...I would like to be visited by Shaquille O'Neal, Lili Reinhart, Edward Norton, and Kelly Clarkson. In no particular order.

Huh. I didn't know until just now that you could quote your own post...Learn something new every day.

I wanted to edit my hospital visitors list: if we can get that Samantha Brown lady --from the Travel Channel or wherever, Shaq and everyone else can say hi and then not have to stay very long. Just sayin

 

[ping-ping-clicka]

A the denver broncos
B My family they deserve that one
C no one i am going up in flames
D snoop dog, or keith .
E the dallas cowboys
F i won't care put me where i last stood. But bury me in my hawaiian shirt and pink suit.

oh boy a topic , similar to my favorite fragrance.
Donating my body to DARPA

 

[Swirling Snow]

I want Robert Palmer's girls.

 

[ping-ping-clicka]

When the fiction is better than the truth, print the fiction. I might need to write my own obit at some point.

that is so cool ! do you keep a journal of your day to day , it might seem boring now , but believe me job juornal especially with a job like yours after years could be really interesting .

 

[archetype]

When the fiction is better than the truth, print the fiction. I might need to write my own obit at some point.

Do it. My late wife wrote her own.

 

[scook]

I met a guy that did Civil War re-enactments and owned a mountain howitzer that he kept in his yard and used for re-enactments. (The ultimate get off of my lawn statement)!

He had a fellow role player that died was cremated. The remains were then loaded into the howitzer and shot into the Shenandoah, as requested in the Will.

Probably one of the more unusual ending ceremonies I’m aware of.