Obituary Goes Viral

“Doing the right thing is always the right thing.” These may be the most important words that govern a life moving forward based on this obituary in the Redwood Falls Gazette.

After receiving a lot of Internet attention, the Minnesota newspaper has taken the online copy of this obit down, but not before it went viral. Ordinarily obituaries are written by those closest to the deceased, and one generally assumes, the most heartbroken of those affected by the loss. In the case of 80-year-old Kathleen Dehmlow’s obituary, it starts to go off the rails by the third paragraph.

Paragraph 1: ok
Paragraph 2: ok
Paragraph 3: wait
Paragraph 4: OH
Paragraph 5: *airplane flies overhead with a banner reading WELCOME TO HELL MOM* pic.twitter.com/ppV45htrda

— Stu (@RandBallsStu) June 5, 2018

Digging into family drama over what did or did not happen during her life is less than useful. That said, I am shocked, awed, delighted and mortified all at the same time.

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

17h ago

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

18h ago

Salaries

Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases

20h ago

• There is a lot of unresolved emotional trauma in the writer of the obit
• There are a lot of dismissed, and burried feelings on the part of the deceased
• There is a lack of discernment (or a streak of brilliance) in the editor that let this copy go to press.

Treat your family well, because they are the ones who will write your obituary, deliver your eulogy, and/or burn you (not in the crematorium kind of way) when you’re gone.