Although the obituary was eventually removed from the newspaper’s website, it had already been shared across multiple social media platforms. A family member, Dwight, later offered context to help the public understand the situation. He explained that the references in the obituary were connected to events that occurred many years earlier and may not have reflected Kathleen’s feelings at the end of her life. According to Dwight, she had expressed remorse about certain choices in her past and had tried to reconnect with family members later on. He suggested that the strong tone of the obituary likely reflected lingering emotions within the family rather than Kathleen’s own intentions, adding nuance to a story that many people had formed opinions about based solely on the published text.
As the obituary continued to be discussed nationwide, the newspaper responded by clarifying how it manages obituary submissions. Editors explained that obituaries are typically written and provided by families, and the newspaper’s role is primarily to publish them as submitted unless the content violates established guidelines. They acknowledged that this particular obituary generated an unusually high volume of feedback from readers and said the situation prompted internal discussions about how to approach sensitive or emotionally charged submissions in the future. The publication emphasized its commitment to maintaining respectful standards while still giving families the opportunity to share meaningful reflections about their loved ones. Continue reading…
