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Why Obituaries in Vancouver Are Being Pre-Written

• June 8, 2025

Throughout much of history, obituaries were simply notices of someone’s passing, written by their loved ones to memorialize the lives of those who have moved on. However, more and more Vancouverites have been turning the situation around. Instead of letting someone else have the final say, they are taking control and writing their own living obituaries. These tribute pieces, written when the writer is alive, respond to a growing hunger for narrative, control over their legacy, and emotional closure. By writing their own obituaries, Vancouver residents are changing how end-of-life tales are narrated.

Taking Control

One of the strongest benefits of living obituaries is that they let you write your story using your own words. With most traditional obituaries Vancouver families put out, there is a serious tone, factual details, and chronological order from birth to death. That never paints the full picture of a person, their humour, their joys, or even their quirks. When writing your obituary, you are not so much recording dates as writing your legacy. You get the chance to emphasize what mattered most to you, thank those who changed your life, and even pass on some wisdom along the way.

Preparing Families

One of the first and most difficult jobs for loved ones is to pen an obituary when someone close to them dies. What do you write? What do you leave out? How do you honour a person while you are still shocked by their death? Obituaries that individuals write themselves bring some consolation to the families who are experiencing grief and emotional overwhelm. If one has already written their tribute, they are spared the uncertainty of determining what they would have wanted. In most obituaries Vancouver families publish, their words are a loving farewell that sounds genuine, brief, and deeply consoling.

Reflecting On Your Life

Many people find writing their obituaries empowering; it allows them time to reflect on a life well lived, where they have come from, how they would like to be remembered, and the impression they have left. In a way, the obituaries Vancouver residents write are like holding up a mirror. Are you satisfied with the story unfolding before you? Are there loose ends that need finishing up? It prompts a final act of reconciliation for some: calling an estranged brother, writing to your kids, or revisiting a past goal.

Impact in Vancouver

Despite being relatively new, living obituaries are becoming quietly popular with people in Vancouver. With a culture that strongly values individuality as well as the art of storytelling, it is no surprise that people are becoming increasingly engaged with creating their own final message. More and more obituaries that newspapers receive have been written by the recently departed themselves, at least partially. They may be irreverent and funny or tearful, but they share one point in common: they sound like themselves. And that is the most important thing at the end of the day