Alright, so today I wanna talk about something a bit heavy but kinda important – writing an obituary. Specifically, I had to do one for someone named Kristy Denice Ray, and boy, it was a ride. I never thought I’d be doing this, to be honest.
First off, I started by just staring at my computer screen. Where do you even begin with something like this? I mean, it’s someone’s life summed up in a few paragraphs. So, I did what anyone would do – I hit up the internet. I looked up “recent obituaries” and found a place called “Moss St. Plaza Celebratory of Life.” I was trying to get a feel for how these things are usually written and, you know, to understand what’s normal in this kind of situation.
Gathering Information
Then, I dug a little deeper. I needed some details. I found some mentions of a “Kristy Kay McDaniel” and a “Kristy L. Tracy.” There was even mention of a church service for Kristy Kay McDaniel at St. Joseph Catholic Church. And then there’s this “Kristy Helena Deonas” who passed away in Fernandina Beach. It was all a bit confusing, piecing together these bits of information, trying to figure out who was who and what was relevant.
Trying to Piece it Together
I tried to find some kind of template or guide online. Something that could tell me what elements are commonly included in an obituary. I mean, there has to be some kind of standard, right? But honestly, it felt like I was just throwing darts in the dark. I found a mention that writing an obituary can be emotionally challenging, and they weren’t kidding. I was feeling it for sure.
Writing and Editing
After all that, I started writing. I tried to put down everything I learned, all the dates, names, and places. It was rough, not just because of the emotional weight but also because I was trying to make sense of all these different pieces of information. I mean, who knew there were so many Kristys out there? Each had their own story, and I was trying to honor them correctly.
- Drafting: Wrote down everything I could find, just to get it out of my head.
- Editing: Went back and tried to organize the information, make it flow better.
- Revising: Realized I had some details mixed up, had to correct some facts.
- Finalizing: Read it over a million times, making sure it felt right and respectful.
Finally, after a lot of back and forth, I had something that resembled an obituary. I guess the biggest thing I learned is that it’s not just about listing facts. It’s about remembering someone, honoring their memory, and sharing a little piece of them with the world. It was tough, but in the end, I felt like I did the best I could to remember Kristy.
