Somehow, last night, I found myself reading Obituaries online. Don`t ask, it`s a long story.
Needless to say, I found quite a few people on there that I knew, which is weird really.
I called my Mom to tell her of my discovery, because I knew she would know these people too.
My Mother then called my Nonna, who then called me because she tried to search for it but she couldn`t find it.
So I emailed my Nonna the obits. Yes, you read that right. The excitement in her voice that there was such a thing – Online Obituaries – was eerie.
It is an Italian tradition that once you hit a certain point in your life, your friends start to die off, so in order to keep track of everyone, you read the obituaries. Actually, it`s probably not even an Italian Tradition, as much as it is an old person tradition.
Since I am fortunate enough to be so involved in the Italian community, I end up knowing a lot of ageing Italians, who just so happen to die, eventually, and then I read about them in the obits. I`m starting off the tradition early.
So now, not only does my Nonna read the obituaries in the news paper everyday, but she has a website, that she can check daily, to make sure she doesn`t miss any funerals.
The sad part is, that I`m so use to obituaries and funerals and old Italians dieing, that it doesn`t even phase me, even though Chad thinks I`m crazy for keeping up to date on it all.
I`m just fulfilling my Italian Destiny.
on January 28th, 2010 at 10:34 am
What a small world, eh? It’s so sad.
The online “Remembering” section of the classifieds, right? I know it. :)
on January 28th, 2010 at 10:37 am
OMG…I clicked on your link and just noticed the death announcement of Virginia Mainit Itubay. I drive down Willingdon all the time, and I used to see her waiting for the bus. I was actually on the bus one time when she came on, and she was so friendly, and she brought the bus driver a treat. And I remember her because she wore pigtails that day, and had on this “Amazing Technicolor” jacket on. And I was there to see the cordoned off area the day of the accident, and didn’t realize that the woman hit was HER till I just read this OBIT! :(
on January 28th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Yes, Virginia, that was how I found the website. I heard that she died and I found her on Bell and Burnaby Funeral Home. As a kid she always sat in the front row at church with her pig tails and colourful jacket. Thats how I always remembered her. I didn’t realize it either until a family friend told me about the accident. So sad. She was such a sweet leady.
on January 28th, 2010 at 10:43 am
When I saw her on the site, I started to scroll down to see if I knew anyone else. Thats where I read about ‘Unlce John’.
on January 28th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
And Virginia’s sister used to work at Myk’s daycare, until recently. Such a small world.
on January 28th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
people here listen to the obits over the radio. serious.
on January 29th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Pat, I think you are listening to Brocket 99.
on January 29th, 2010 at 8:31 am
I write obituaries for a living, so I find this amusing. I’m always surprised by the number of people who tell me they read the obits everyday, mostly because I never would if it wasn’t my job.