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Earlier quoted context omitted.
In Ireland, they are called a wake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_(ceremony)
That Wikipedia page says viewings are basically the same as a wake. Are viewings not common in the U.S? They're common in Utah. When my dad died, before the viewing there was the period right after death where my siblings and I sat in the room with his body and talked until the mortuary picked him up.
Late 1800s obits were formal. They included family members and church affiliations. Cities were small industry/mercantile areas, surrounded by working farms. A few ethnicities dominated, depending on the industry and location. Local directories listed street names/landmarks, noted their death or the city they 'removed to'.
1920s obits came with more details about the decedent's lives and families. Church affiliation was inferred by funeral arrangements. Cities were larger; ethnicities clustered in neighborhoods. Local directories listed home & work name/addy, the wife's name or the spouse's name of a widow.
From 1940s to 1970s, obits became longer and included extended family, marriage dates and accomplishments (inc church). Military history became prominent in the 60s and 70s. Major cities were huge and adjacent areas were distinct places. Ethnicities were more spread out. Phone books had numbers and addresses.
In the 1980s, obit length tended to shorten to minimal details but could be longer if the decedent knew a lot of people. Families were often spread out. Cremations replaced burials.
I like reading (esp. Observer and Economist) and writing obituaries. When I was working for Reuters, I saw how they have draft obituaries ready for all living celebrities, which have to be constantly updated -- until folks actually pass away. The purpose is to be able to post obituaries within seconds after a person's death. At some point I designed an API for them to order people by the "update-worthiness" of their…
> e.g. we no longer keep the departed at home for relatives to get used to the fact that they are no longer alive, but still be able to look at them when mourning What was this practice called? It sounds interesting.
It's a sobering exercise that brings me great peace and, I hope, will bring them great peace too.
I’d write my own but I’m afraid there’s not much to write about.
I like reading (esp. Observer and Economist) and writing obituaries. When I was working for Reuters, I saw how they have draft obituaries ready for all living celebrities, which have to be constantly updated -- until folks actually pass away. The purpose is to be able to post obituaries within seconds after a person's death. At some point I designed an API for them to order people by the "update-worthiness" of their…
I was responsible for doing this for a news radio network 30 years ago. Mostly I was able to stay on top of things, but Princess Diana really ruined my weekend. No-one was ready for that one.
Ask yourself this: if you wrote as much nice things you could about a good friend, how much of it do you think your friend would know that you know that....perhaps less than you think. Why not summarize the nice parts of the lives of people you know and then just tell them?
I think there's something even better you can do. Write a nice summary of other people you care about, not an obituary, but a summary of your perspective of them, and send it to them. Perhaps while they are still alive, so they can actually enjoy the nice things you think about them. Ask yourself this: if you wrote as much nice things you could about a good friend, how much of it do you think your friend would know t…
That is my literal answer to why I don't do it