A good obituary should contain the deceased’s quirks and foibles as well as his or her accomplishments.
The obituary for W.J. “Bill” Lambie, published in the Toronto Star, says Lambie acquired his love of the outdoors from growing up in a forested lake area and his love of books from his father.
His creativity and commanding classroom presence revealed a natural teacher sealing his lifelong commitment to education. His perceptiveness quickly thrust him into administration.
After all the cause-and-effect commentary and details about the career of this 74-year-old educator, who lived near Minden, Ontario, the family throws the reader a curve ball:
He could precisely articulate models of decision making, yet forget the punch line to any joke. He loved music and regretted his inability to carry a tune. Golf was a self-inflicted wound; despite a fickle drive ‘Minden Rules’ somehow always rescued his scorecard.
A good obituary should contain the deceased’s quirks and foibles as well as his or her accomplishments.
This post was contributed by Alana Baranick, a freelance obituary writer who lives in Northeast Ohio. She is director of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers and chief author of Life on the Death Beat: A Handbook for Obituary Writers.
