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10 Incredible Obituary Examples That Will Make Your Day

by | Mar 6, 2014 | For Families

Two people holding cellphones

Obituaries don’t have to be boring!  All of the following touching tributes create true reflections of the lives lived – whether they do so in a humorous, sentimental or boldly honest way.  Take a look at each obituary below and then apply the lessons learned from these incredible examples to your own obit writing process:

William “Freddie” McCullough

william freddie mccullough

“The man. The myth. The legend. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him. William Freddie McCullough died on September 11, 2013. Freddie loved deep fried Southern food smothered in Cane Syrup, fishing at Santee Cooper Lake, Little Debbie Cakes, Two and a Half Men, beautiful women, Reeses Cups and Jim Beam. Not necessarily in that order. He hated vegetables and hypocrites. Not necessarily in that order.”

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/savannah/obituary.aspx?pid=166950349

Nevena Ann Topic

nevena ann topic

“Ann would like to let you know that her work here is done. She received a call, a sort of an offer you can’t refuse, for an appointment from which she will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with family and friends she has not seen in a long time. Job security is exactly 110 percent. Her new mission takes her to a wonderful place where she will be socializing, dancing, gardening and reading to her heart’s content. Music, laughter and love are guaranteed. Food is delicious and you never gain an ounce. She left detailed instructions for her husband and children to celebrate her mission here, which has now been completed. Low adherence to this instruction will not be tolerated.”

Read more: http://www.calebwilde.com/2014/06/a-hopeful-obituary/

Harry Weathersby Stamps

harry weathersby stamps

“Harry took fashion cues from no one. His signature every day look was all his: a plain pocketed T-shirt designed by the fashion house Fruit of the Loom, his black-label elastic waist shorts worn above the navel and sold exclusively at the Sam’s on Highway 49, and a pair of old school Wallabees (who can even remember where he got those?) that were always paired with a grass-stained MSU baseball cap.”

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2292362/Touching-candid-obituary-written-daughter-ladies-man-bacon-loving-father-internet-sensation.html

Duck “Doug” Silverman

duck silverman

“Duck “Doug” Silverman came into my life about 14 years ago. He was picked up by the State running through South Central with no collar, tags or chip. Nobody claimed or adopted him so a no-kill shelter took him in. That’s where I found him — at that shelter, in Van Nuys. 14 years. My longest relationship. My only experience of maternal love. My constant companion. My best friend. Duck.”

Read more: http://www.whosay.com/status/sarahsilverman/720768

Michael “Flathead” Blanchard

michael flathead blanchard

“Weary of reading obituaries noting someone’s courageous battle with death, Mike wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn, refusing to follow doctors’ orders and raising hell for more than six decades. He enjoyed booze, guns, cars and younger women until the day he died.”

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=156944598

Mary A. “Pink” Mullaney

mary pink mullaney

“We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Pink during her 85 years, among them: Never throw away old pantyhose. Use the old ones to tie gutters, child-proof cabinets, tie toilet flappers, or hang Christmas ornaments. Also: If a possum takes up residence in your shed, grab a barbecue brush to coax him out. If he doesn’t leave, brush him for twenty minutes and let him stay.”

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/07/grandparents-day-2013_n_3887074.html

Jane Catherine Lotter

jane catherine lotter

“I was given the gift of life, and now I have to give it back. This is hard. But I was a lucky woman, who led a lucky existence, and for this I am grateful. I first got sick in January 2010. When the cancer recurred last year and was terminal, I decided to be joyful about having had a full life, rather than sad about having to die. Amazingly, this outlook worked for me. (Well, you know, most of the time.) Meditation and the study of Buddhist philosophy also helped me accept what I could not change. At any rate, I am at peace. And on that upbeat note, I take my mortal leave of this rollicking, revolving world-this sun, that moon, that walk around Green Lake, that stroll through the Pike Place Market, the memory of a child’s hand in mine.”

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/jane-lotter_n_3708141.html

Antonia W. “Toni” Larroux

antonia larroux

“Waffle House lost a loyal customer on April 30, 2013. Antonia W. “Toni” Larroux died after a battle with multiple illnesses: lupus, rickets, scurvy, kidney disease and feline leukemia. She had previously conquered polio as a child contributing to her unusually petite ankles and the nickname “polio legs” given to her by her ex-husband, Jean F. Larroux, Jr. It should not be difficult to imagine the multiple reasons for their divorce 35+ years ago. Two children resulted from that marriage: Hayden Hoffman and Jean F. Larroux, III. Due to multiple, anonymous Mother’s Day cards which arrived each May, the children suspect there were other siblings but that has never been verified.”

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=antonia-larroux&pid=164596250

Ida Mae Russell Sills

ida mae russell sills

“Ida Mae had a rich but strict childhood. Ida graduated from Messick High School in 1950 and attended Memphis State University. Ida married High School friend, Karl Hadaway. On January 31, 1953, a child was born named Mary Denise. The marriage decayed and the couple divorced in 1954. Ida’s marriage to Karl was a three ring circus, engagement ring, wedding ring and suffering. Ida met and married Albert Sills in 1960. Ida said “I never knew what real happiness was until I got remarried, then it was too late”.”

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/commercialappeal/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=107483910

Bill Eves

bill eves

“On Saturday February the 8th Molson’s stock price fell sharply on the news of Bill Eves’ passing. Senior executives at Molson called an emergency meeting to brace for the impact of the anticipated drop in sales. As a highly regarded principal for 33 years with the separate school board he created many fond memories for staff, students and families. After his retirement he pursued some of his many hobbies including cooking, carpentry, gardening and sending daily joke emails to family and friends.”

Read more: http://yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oid=777649

If you liked these, check out this recent list of funny obituaries that are bound to bring a smile to your face!

Do you have any other great obit examples you’d like to add to this list? Share your recommendations by leaving a comment below!

6 Comments

  1. Amber

    “Bonnie Bonner, 78, ‘the Waving Grandma’, bargain shopper, chocolate cake lover, hard-smacking hugger and expert story teller, died Sunday October 13, 2013 of COPD…”
    This is the best obituary I have ever read: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsobserver/obituary.aspx?n=Bonnie-Bonner&pid=167548918

    Reply
  2. Paul Langley

    Wow, some of these are definitely frank. But it seems like they all really well represent the people they’re written for, and I hope to be remembered by my friends and loved ones in such a brash and fearless manner. Especially Michael “Flathead” Blanchard, who “wanted it known that he died as a result of being stubborn,” something I can definitely relate to. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  3. kristin howard

    The smartest man in the world has died. Philip Adair van Thullenar was born in Texas on a sweltering August day in 1931 and died on a beautiful fall day in November 2016. The birth and death of this great man, however, is not nearly as relevant as all the days and nights that he lived to the fullest between those two dates.
    His parents knew they had the perfect child, which is why they only had one. Phil was intellectually gifted and had tremendous natural athletic ability. He was born in Texas, but due to his father’s occupation with the National Weather Service, Phil lived and went to school in Wisconsin, Boston, Salt Lake City, Berlin, Germany and Kansas City. He excelled at hockey and was asked to join the Olympic team when he was in high school in Boston, but his parents insisted his studies come first so he declined and continued to earn straight A’s through college.
    He was such an excellent baseball player in college, he received offers from three major league baseball teams to join their pitching roster. Once again, he and his parents discussed the offer and concluded that while a few years in MLB would indeed be exciting, a career in the medical profession would provide lifelong stability and many opportunities.
    He attended Rockhurst College, where he met the love of his life, Susan Marie Turgeon. She proclaimed the day she met him she was going to marry him and when that woman sets her mind to something, nothing gets in her way! Phil was a member of the choir and Alpha Sigma NU at Rockhurst. Upon graduation, he attended medical school at St. Louis University where all the men wanted to be like him and all the women knew to stay away from him. Sue had her hooks in and wasn’t letting go. After graduating at the top of his class (and narrowly escaping the wrath of his roommate for his annoying habit of loudly chewing on his favorite candy, lemon drops), Phil and Sue were married in September 1956 in Kansas City, Mo.
    The first of 8 children arrived 9 months later and our dad kept our mom in maternity wear for 10 years! When she told him she wanted 10 children, he didn’t bat an eye and truly looked forward to making that wish come true for her. However, after the 8th “baby” arrived as a full-blown toddler, Sue declared, “8 is enough!” Two girls were born in Portland, Ore., three boys came next in KC, then a third daughter arrived at MacDill Air Force base in Tampa, Fla., where Phil was a Captain in the Air Force before they returned to Roeland Park, KS and had their 4th girl and 4th boy, making it a full house.
    They raised their eight kids in a ranch house up the street from Bishop Miege High School, near St. Agnes grade school, where all eight kids attended, excelled, some were expelled, but all graduated, some with honors, like their dad. Phil truly enjoyed watching his children play sports, sing in concerts, perform in plays and musicals and only bailed one out of jail. He was a patient man. One of our classmates once said, “You must be rich – your dad’s a doctor!” Upon hearing this, Phil laughed and said, “I have eight children – I’ll never be rich financially! But I am blessed beyond riches in many other ways that no amount of money can buy.”
    The family vacations, annual Memorial Day camping trips and outings to the Kings basketball, KC Blues hockey, Chiefs football and Royals baseball games were always fun and special. Phil provided countless lifelong memories for his children, their friends, his and Sue’s friends and extended family members that we will cherish forever. Naturally, after taking his eight (im)perfect kids on vacation every summer, he and Sue always took another vacation – just the two of them to replenish their sanity.
    Phil was a respected Pathologist at St. Luke’s, Menorah, Bethany and Providence Medical Centers. He was the deputy coroner for Wyandotte County, provided brilliant testimony at many trials and was President of the Cancer Association of Wyandotte County. He used to brag (or perhaps threaten?) that he could kill someone and nobody would ever know.
    After suffering a major stroke five years ago, a new Phil emerged. The Phil we grew up with was patient, genteel, fastidious in his appearance and never said a curse word or spoke badly of anyone. After his stroke, a bolder, more outspoken Phil emerged, and he was not afraid to speak his mind, often quite colorfully. He frequently called his sons “Dick”, which some attribute to the stroke while others believe it was a subconscious way of him calling his sons out on all the cars of his they wrecked and all the tools of his they “borrowed,” never to be seen again.
    Left behind to carry on Phil’s legacy: his beloved wife of 60 years, “Suesy,” his children, Diane, Cecile, Andrew, Jeffrey, Ted, Kristin, Ann, and David, their spouses, and 18 grandchildren. If you feel the urge to spend money, Phil would not want anyone to waste their money on flowers for his funeral. Instead, he would be tickled pink if you planted flowers in your garden or took you and your family out to a movie, a concert or a nice meal at a locally owned restaurant. He lived a full and happy life, and we are honored to celebrate the dash between the day he entered this world and the day he left it. We encourage you to do the same.

    Reply
  4. Rebecca

    I think people that make obituaries for pets are awwsome

    Reply

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