Offbeat Obituaries Honor Loss With Levity (and Brutal Honesty)

[Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.]

Before he died at age 90, Maynard Hirshon wrote and paid for his own obituary, which appeared in a Florida newspaper in 2021. Instead of a traditional tribute, he wrote that he had “a pretty good life” and ended with “Bye-bye.” His quirky obituary reflected a growing trend of more personal and unconventional death announcements.

As newspapers have reduced staff and shifted toward paid obituaries, families have gained more freedom in how they remember loved ones. These modern obituaries are often funny, honest, and full of personality rather than formal lists of achievements. Experts say they stand out because they feel more human and less scripted.

Some writers believe this shift began after the Sept. 11 attacks, when newspapers published emotional and deeply personal stories about victims. Since then, obituaries have started including details about hobbies, habits, humor, and personality traits instead of focusing only on careers and family history.

One example was the obituary for James Loveless, written by his son Rocky in 2023. The obituary joked about his love of fried food, his stubborn personality, and even included humorous comments about his favorite son and an old pair of boxers. Rocky said he wanted the obituary to feel real instead of overly polished.

These modern obituaries show how people are changing the way they talk about death. Rather than presenting a perfect image, many families now choose to celebrate loved ones with honesty, humor, and memorable personal stories.

For more information see Johnny Diaz “Offbeat Obituaries Honor Loss With Levity (and Brutal Honesty)” The New York Times, April 28, 2026.