Who is really going to fact-check an obituary? That may have been the mindset of Norma R. Brewer when she wrote her own. One cannot fault her for injecting a bit of humor into what is often a somber occasion.
According to her self-penned obituary, Norma passed away from hypothermia at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro after her dog, Mia, ate her boots and socks. This colorful story details how she died attempting to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, accompanied by her daughter, cats, and, of course, Mia.
“Mom always had stories—many of which were not true, but she found them funny,” shared her daughter, Donna. In reality, Norma had passed away from a stroke and had been wheelchair-bound for over a year. But those who knew her best recognized this obituary as one final laugh, consistent with her unique outlook on life. As her son, Raymond, noted, “Life is serious, but it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.”
As an estate planning attorney, I encounter matters of death and incapacity every day. While these are important topics, approaching them with a sense of humor and lightheartedness can make the process less daunting.
Before you start drafting your own whimsical obituary, consider ensuring your estate is in order. Schedule a consultation with our office to begin planning for the future, so your story can be told exactly how you envision it—no matter how colorful it may be.