Requiescat in pace

There is a lot to say about this. First of all; it is real. It appeared in the Redwood Falls Gazette, one of America's newspapers.

Her family left no one to wonder how they felt about Kathleen, and that alone started some commotion in the small town in Minnesota known as Redwood Falls.

Some people had conciliatory words (“The good Lord loves you more than anyone else ever could. You are in heaven now with our savior. R.I.P.") said one online contributor, and another said, "What a life she lived. Hope you find peace."

No one has heard from Gina or Jay. There are fewer than 700 people in their hometown, so you have to figure on this being a major topic of conversation down at the Dairy Queen this summer.

The whole thing has also been bruited about among the staff of the Gazette:

More and more, I sound like one of those old Geezer Butlers going on about the olden days, but there were never any death notices back then where the family torched their non-dearly departed like this. In fact, every effort was made to put the best face on things, even when the subject of the obit lost his life by being run over by a streetcar while running down the street with his pants in his hands. If you catch my drift.

So no, I wouldn't have written or submitted a death notice, but then, I don't know what it feels like to have a mother get in the family way by a member of the family. And it's Jay and Gina's story to tell.

Some day, I would give anything to hang around the Pearly Gates for an hour or two, just to see and hear some of the incoming.