MORAN: Inspiring tales of life
The Herald News
I’ve been reading the obituary page rather closely these days. No, it’s not the act of bleak pessimism it might appear to be. But having lost three friends within a short space of time, all under the age of 60, I find myself drawn to the newspaper pages that attempt, in relatively few words, to encapsulate the lives of those who have passed from this world.
In Greater Fall River, a community whose atmosphere is really like that of a small town — one where everybody seems to know everybody — the formal notices about those who have died frequently include, to any reader, a familiar name or two. You may not know the person who passed away, but the name of a family member or extended family member will often be recognizable.
To me, the brief life stories and backgrounds of people listed on the obituary page are quite fascinating, even when I have no personal connection to the individual or their family. And an obituary can reveal aspects of a life that might not otherwise be commonly known — both to strangers and to those who consider themselves well acquainted with the person who died.
Hobbies and pastimes are frequently mentioned in obituaries. Over the course of the past few weeks, many were published that detailed the lives of people who loved gardening, crocheting, painting, fishing and playing bingo — activities that seem rather ordinary but may speak volumes about what mattered greatly to the person whose life has ended. A woman from Tiverton who recently died enjoyed listening to her police scanner, according to her obituary.
Regarding another who passed away last month, the newspaper said she “passionately enjoyed the music of J.S. Bach.”
Many are referred to as “a lifelong resident of” their city or town, a true source of pride for a lot of us in this region. In much the same way, families often consider it important to remind readers that the deceased was an avid Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins fan. One recent obituary included the names of pets in the list of surviving family members. Animal lovers completely understand why that is occasionally done.
Many local obituaries mention details of the employment histories of our departed brothers and sisters. These entries are fascinating, frequently taking readers on excursions all over the world as we follow the military service or other professional duties of some of our area’s residents. We also note the obituaries of hard working retired machine operators that feature familiar corporate names like Quaker, Globe and too many others that reside today only in our memories.
I know a wonderful lady who recently lost her mother. The obituary revealed what must have been a very full and vibrant life. For starters, she was married to her husband for 72 years, a remarkable accomplishment in itself. This very special 95-year-old woman was also active within her community and her church. But my eyes opened widely when I learned she was also a past Worthy Matron of Corinthian Chapter #55 Order of the Eastern Star. I know little about this fraternal organization, but that title is most certainly impressive.
Then there are obituaries that include the nickname of the deceased. You’ll find that a lot in The Herald News. Sometimes families have to include the nickname since many people are known only by the moniker given them by their friends, and not the one conferred upon them by their parents.
Obituaries often show that many older folks from Greater Fall River share the same ethnic background as their spouse. That may occur less frequently these days. But years ago, if a young man of Irish descent from “below the hill” married a young French-Canadian woman from the Flint, it would be considered a mixed marriage. I don’t think I’m the first to point that out, but those kinds of stories still amuse me.
It’s nearly impossible to summarize the accomplishments of a person in a few paragraphs. Yet day in and day out, we read on the obituary page what the relatives of those who have passed away want us to know and remember about their loved ones. It may be the only opportunity people have to let the whole community know how special their deceased family member was.
Here we get to understand the profound impact that those who pass on have had, often quietly and without fanfare, on the lives of others. Their stories are well worth telling and sometimes very inspiring to read.
Mike Moran is a well-known SouthCoast media personality. His column appears in The Herald News every Thursday. E-mail him at mikemoranfr@aol.com.
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