I always wondered what hearing one's own obituary might sound like, and I sort of feel like I may have just heard part of it at least.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I don't think most people know what's going to be in their obituary, but I do.
I'm fairly certain when I die that the obituary will say, 'Author of 'Angels in America' dies.' Unless I'm completely forgotten, and then it won't say anything at all.
Sometimes a famous subject may even outlive his own obituary writer.
Beyond being timely, an obituary has a more subjective duty: to assess its subject's impact.
A common defense among obituary-fanciers such as myself is that the obit is not about death at all. It is about life. This is true since an article about the condition of deadness would make for turgid reading at best.
Anyone who has to write an obituary for me one day will probably say, 'She did absolute depths of agony really well.' I'm not, however, an unhappy person.
An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last installment missing.
All publicity is good, except an obituary notice.
I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.
I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary notices I have read with pleasure.