Do you think it's ever right to write a mean obituary?

Question

I heard on the radio about a family that decided to write a mean obituary of their mother. It was a rather unflattering obituary of a mom of 7 kids, it was so bad that the newspaper thought is was a joke. They asked proof of her death and proof that they were indeed her kids. Here's a link to the obituary:

http://redwolf.newsvine.com/_news/2008/08/17/1757371-obituaries-dolores-aguilar

What do you think, is it ever alright to write something like this, even if it's true? Revenge or closure? What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

WOW.  They sound beyond revenge to me.  It's almost  written matter of factly...somehow.  This woman must have been a real treat for them to take this stance.  I guess there is no guarantee that just because you've passed, that kind words will be said about you.  I guess it is their right to write what they feel.  It's actually quite sad.

Answer 2

While I would never do that because my Aunt means SO much to me (and out of respect for her - my Aunt), I have always thought about something like that for my mom. I wonder sometimes if I will even cry when she passes. Will I find out in the paper or will someone call me?

Please, before you judge, remember it takes all kinds of people to make this world go round and some of them are parents.

Answer 3

That is so sad.  I can't imagine my family hating me so much.  I think the obit made her kids look heartless and very disrespectful.  But whatever she did to them must have been very bad.  

Answer 4

No I don't and anyone who would do that is a real loser.

Answer 5

It all depends on what she did. I don't think they should have said anything if they had nothing nice to say though. All they had to do was not show up to her funeral, that shows enough.    

Answer 6

That's just downright disrespectful. They waited until she was dead in the ground to have to courage to speak up, well I think anyone that would do that is a coward. You should have confronted your inner demons while she was alive enough to know what she did, then you move on, forgive and live your life. They were just bitter kids who held resentment until they had the courage to speak, when she was no longer around to take her own side.

Answer 7

Each person deserves dignity in death depsite what they might have been like in life.

The old saying "never speak ill of the dead" must have started for some reason.

Plus, if a person was that horrible in life, who is suffering because of those words? Not the dead person. People, those who matter, will already know the truth. Why take a cheap shot?