Lives Told Well: The Best Obituaries

The best obituaries find the extraordinary in the lives of ordinary people.

When it comes to obituaries, celebrities tend to grab the headlines. But every day obituary writers around the world find the extraordinary in the lives of ordinary people. Here’s a sampling of some of the best obituaries we’ve read recently.

"Nothing really matters. It's all meaningless."So begins the ultimately inspirational and uplifting obituary for "bodysurfer, mom, Goldwyn Girl, movie & TV actress, Footlighter, grandmother, and real estate agent" Sue Casey. Read through the end, or you'll miss the best parts. Read more"You may not have known Ida Mahone but she made your life a little better""No one, not a single soul, would want for comfort while she had a say in the matter and that endeared her to all. You could depend on her. You still can." Read moreThis man's obituary respects his wife almost as much as he didThe obituary for Toledo radio deejay Freeman Hudson is extraordinary. Why? Because of the way it describes his devotion to his wife and support for her political career. Read more

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• Find an Obituary for a Specific Person
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• What to Say When Someone Dies