Moore's Chapel Funeral Home Obituaries

Ever found yourself at a loss for words when someone asks, "How's your week been?" You know, the kind of week where the toaster decides to short-circuit, the cat brings in a 'gift' that's not quite alive anymore, and you're pretty sure your neighbor's been stealing your Wi-Fi? Well, imagine if your week was so eventful that the local funeral home had to update your obituary. Twice.

Obituaries: The Original Social Media

Now, don't go getting any ideas. I'm not suggesting you start planning your own funeral just to get some likes (or should that be 'likes'?). But think about it, obituaries are like the original social media. They're where we go to find out what's been happening in our community, who's passed on, and who's left behind to tell the tale.

Take Moore's Chapel Funeral Home, for instance. They've been at this since 1921, which is like being a teenager on Facebook. They've seen it all, from the Great Depression to the Great Recession, and everything in between. They've got more stories than a bingo hall on a Saturday night.

Obituaries: The Comedy of Errors

Remember that time you ordered a pizza, and they delivered a cake instead? Or when you asked for a large, and they brought you a small? Now imagine if that happened with your obituary. That's right, folks, it's happened. More than once.

There was the time they announced old Mr. Jenkins had passed, only to have him walk into the funeral home the next day, demanding to know why they were giving away his secrets. Turns out, they'd mixed up his obituary with his will. Oops!

Then there was the time they printed that Mrs. Thompson had passed peacefully in her sleep, only to have her son call up, laughing so hard he could barely speak. Seems Mrs. Thompson was very much alive and well, and had just had a very vivid dream about her own funeral. She was not amused.

Obituaries: The Family Reunion You Can't Miss

Obituaries aren't just about the deceased, though. They're about the living too. They're a chance to reconnect with old friends, to remember the good times, and to remind ourselves that life goes on. They're the family reunion you can't miss, even if you wanted to.

Obituary | Annie Lue McCray Moultry of Brundidge, Alabama | Moore

Take Uncle Joe, for example. You haven't seen him since he moved to Timbuktu (or was it Tucson?) twenty years ago. But there he is, in black and white, telling you all about his new grandbaby and his award-winning chili recipe. You might not have spoken in years, but suddenly, you're catching up like old times.

Obituaries: The Last Laugh

And then there are the obituaries that make you laugh. The ones that tell you all about Auntie Mabel's love of polka dancing, or Grandpa Harry's lifelong feud with the squirrels in his backyard. The ones that remind you that even in death, there's room for a little humor.

Like the time they printed that Great-Aunt Bertha had passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. Only, it turned out she'd been watching a particularly suspenseful episode of 'NCIS' at the time. The family had a good laugh about that one.

Moore's Chapel: The Original News Feed

So, next time you're wondering what's been happening in your community, don't reach for your phone. Don't log onto Facebook or Twitter. Just pick up the local paper, turn to the obituaries, and have a read. You never know what you might find. It's the original news feed, after all. And it's a lot harder to ignore than a notification light.

And who knows? You might even find a story or two that'll make you smile. Or at least, raise an eyebrow. After all, it's not every day you read about someone who 'died doing what he loved'... and that love just happened to be eating tacos.