Obituaries are not kept private; they are often published in newspapers and occasionally shared online. This means that many individuals, ranging from dozens to even hundreds, may come across the obituary. The obituary provided below sheds light on the fact that the household did not always have a harmonious atmosphere. Kathleen Dehmlow’s two adult children took the time to write an obituary for their late mother, allowing the entire town to have access to it.
Initially, it appears to be a typical obituary, but as you read on, it becomes evident that there were underlying issues within the family. Surprisingly, the final sentence is quite shocking, albeit in a peculiarly amusing manner. The local paper, The Redwood Falls Gazette, was responsible for the publication of the obituary. Due to the overwhelming backlash received, the obituary was subsequently removed. A family member confirmed the contents of the obituary. By this time, the obituary had spread widely.
It could have attracted even more readers if it had mentioned “a considerable amount of information that is not included” in the piece. Dwight, the family member interviewed by the publication, holds a contrasting perspective on the issue. According to him, she committed an error six decades ago, but she has since expressed remorse, emphasizing that everyone is prone to making mistakes. The individual responsible for the obituary opted to leave with animosity, asserting that it would inflict considerable suffering on numerous people. There were individuals who went as far as to doubt whether the obituary had truly been printed in the newspaper. The CEO and founder of the newspaper addressed this issue, stating that there was no legal prohibition against publishing an obituary, regardless of its contents. He proceeded to mention that their newspaper partners uphold high content standards, thus they took the complaints seriously and conducted a thorough review of the obituary. At this stage, it is likely that you are curious about the contents of the obituary, and that is entirely understandable. Rest assured, we have it available for your review. When a beloved individual passes away, it is common for family members to take on the responsibility of composing an obituary. These pieces are typically heartfelt tributes to the deceased, often characterized by warmth and sentimentality. While numerous families aim to pay tribute to their deceased loved one in a respectful manner, not all of them intend to compose a highly flattering obituary. In reality, certain families will make an effort to be unapologetically candid in the obituary.
The obituary in question starts off with standard details about Kathleen Dehmlow’s life but takes a turn when it delves into personal grievances held by her children. The final shocking sentence suggests deep-seated animosity. The obituary’s publication led to public outrage and was eventually removed from The Redwood Falls Gazette’s website. However, by then, it had already gone viral.
A family member, Dwight, revealed that Kathleen had made a significant mistake decades ago but had since shown remorse. He criticized the obituary’s author for airing family grievances publicly. Despite the controversy, the newspaper stood by its decision to publish, noting no legal prohibition against its contents but also acknowledging the backlash and promising a review of their content standards.
This incident highlights how obituaries, usually intended as respectful tributes, can sometimes become platforms for unresolved family conflicts and candid revelations.
