November 5th 2024.
Sean Kelly was faced with a daunting task when he decided to write a tribute to his late mother in just 100 words. Little did he know that this heartfelt and candid obituary would soon become a worldwide sensation. The obituary, which was initially published in the Sydney Morning Herald, quickly caught the attention of people from all over the globe.
Jennifer Ann Kelly, fondly known as 'Jennie' by her loved ones, passed away at the age of 88 on October 28. As the world awaited the results of the US election, Sean and his brother Chris chose to honor their mother's memory in a unique way. They described her as a woman who had a love for growing marijuana and indulging in champagne. But most importantly, they depicted her as a free-spirited woman who never wanted to conform to societal norms.
Jennie was the kind of person who refused to use words like 'passed' and 'passed away' and she never wanted the party to end. Sean shared in an interview with 9news.com.au that he never expected the obituary to go viral. He was pleasantly surprised when his daughter, Sophie, informed him about the numerous comments on Reddit about his mother. From there, the obituary took on a life of its own.
Sean believes that if his mother was alive to witness the widespread attention her obituary received, she would have been mortified. However, his friends assure him that she would have secretly enjoyed the limelight. Sean wrote the obituary with inputs from his brother Chris, who reminded him of their mother's love for gin and champagne. Both brothers are grateful that their mother's memory continues to live on through this obituary.
Jennie always used to say that we spend most of our lives compensating for our upbringing. She strongly believed that exposing children to religion was a form of child abuse. She was a vocal critic of the government and held John Howard in particular contempt. Her fiery personality and strong opinions made it impossible to watch the news in her presence.
Sean and Chris also shared some lighthearted anecdotes about their mother, like how she grew great marijuana and never wanted to leave a party. They also mentioned her attempts at 'responsible parenting or grandparenting', which they found endearing. According to Jennie, Sean was a much better driver than Chris. In a humorous tone, the obituary concluded with the line, "News on what's next to follow. Bring a shovel."
This 126-word obituary was buried on page 49 of the tributes and celebrations page of the Nine newspaper. But it didn't take long for it to capture the hearts of people all around the world. The online death notice was flooded with heartfelt messages from strangers who were touched by Jennie's story. One person wrote, "I wish I had known Jennie, she sounds wonderful. Thank you for a wonderful obituary - clearly Jennie lived until she died." Another message read, "Your mum sounds phenomenal. The amazing tribute has reached thousands of people in the UK."
The witty obituary also sparked a popular discussion on Reddit, with hundreds of people commenting on it. Sean added his own message to the thread, acknowledging that it is impossible to define someone in a few sentences. He also shared that he and his brother took care of their mother until the very end. Jennie spent her last days with her sons as her health declined. Sean also shared that he was glad he got the chance to show her a picture book he had written, titled Rudder to the Rescue: Lost, which he completed just before her passing.
Sean also opened up about how his mother's fall at the age of 85 changed her forever. She was never the same and he described her as a mere shadow of her former self. However, through this obituary, he hopes that her spirit and personality will never be forgotten.
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