Do you enjoy reading obituaries?

Linda

Linda

Senior Member
Location
Central California foothills
I read obituaries of elderly people who have died even if I don't know them. I like to read the long obituaries in the newspaper where they tell all about a person's life, their parent's names, where they were born, details of their long lives. Do you?
 

No, I don’t enjoy reading them. I posted a thread awhile back asking if people check the obituaries regularly (online or in the newspaper) and most who replied said “no”. If I see a notice that someone I knew has died I click and read it.

But even when someone I was close to dies, I don’t “enjoy” reading the obituary – I read it carefully and feel kind of sad, or think “what a nice life”, etc. Sometimes I’m surprised; for example, a friend of y uncle died last year and I was surprised he was quite educated and accomplished in his career. I only knew him on a surface level and according to his obituary he had an impressive life.

Some people want to have input into what their obituary will say. I think that’s fine. I also think if a person doesn’t want an obituary or service that’s their right.
 

AZ Jim said:
No. When I die, there will be no service, no obituary, no monument, just ashes someone will dispose of.
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Like Jim we have no service, no obituary, no monument, nothing except ashes. That is how we do it in our family. My question, which I probably did not make myself clear on, was referring to reading about stranger's lives. I never read obits on young people unless I knew them as it makes me feel sad. I like reading biographies so that is probably why I like reading obits on elderly people.
 
applecruncher said:
No, I don’t enjoy reading them. I posted a thread awhile back asking if people check the obituaries regularly (online or in the newspaper) and most who replied said “no”. If I see a notice that someone I knew has died I click and read it.

But even when someone I was close to dies, I don’t “enjoy” reading the obituary – I read it carefully and feel kind of sad, or think “what a nice life”, etc. Sometimes I’m surprised; for example, a friend of y uncle died last year and I was surprised he was quite educated and accomplished in his career. I only knew him on a surface level and according to his obituary he had an impressive life.

Some people want to have input into what their obituary will say. I think that’s fine. I also think if a person doesn’t want an obituary or service that’s their right.
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I don't enjoy reading obituaries of people I know either. But if someone I don't know, lived a long life, I like to read about it. One lady I cleaned house for a couple years I didn't know well because she was at work when I cleaned. Well, about 20 years later I saw her obituary and I was surprised at what a fascinating life she had lived. I thought it was a little sad, the 2 times I saw her in person she appeared shy and we never got to talking (except about how she wanted her house cleaned) so I had no idea what an extraordinary person she was.
 
I don't read them, but then I don't get a local paper and really would not seek that out online. That said, I have no idea what I want for my final arrangements, but will probably go with a minimalist theme. I know virtually no one in my town, despite having lived here for over 30 years. I told my wife once that if I go first, I want her to throw a big party and celebrate my life, but I have no use for an obituary of my own.
 
I never read them, but sometimes I'll scan the Sunday paper to see if there are any familiar names on there. I'm like Jim, no obit, no service, no memorial, they can just dispose of my ashes, or my husband will.
 
AZ Jim said:
No. When I die, there will be no service, no obituary, no monument, just ashes someone will dispose of.
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Just make sure that you make those wishes known to all family and friends.

That was my father's wish, which I nonoured, and have been vilified by family and friends ever since (1980), losing a $150K inheritance in the process.

On a personal note, it is still a matter of anguish that he did not allow me to say my good byes - he would not even allow me to accompany him to the crematorium.

Think hard about it.
 
Laurie that is such a shame, but if that's what he wanted, you did as he wished.

I don't read obits usually, but sometimes I get curious and look in my home-town community paper to see if there's anyone I know in there. There has been a few times, sadly.
 

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