Story of his life

The News-Gazette recently changed its obituary policy, which has generated plenty of controversy on the letters to the editors page. In summary, the N-G used to run free obits that followed a strict formula. They were treated as news stories, and there was no input taken from the families of the deceased. Now, for 5.5 cents a character (and another $10 for a photo), people can wax on and on about their loved ones who have gone on to another place.

Paid obituaries are nothing new in the newspaper business. If anything, the N-G was about three decades behind other papers in getting into the death-for-profit market. But our purpose here isn’t to pass judgment on the change, but rather to reflect on how the obituaries section has now become another must-read section of the paper, and not just for your grandmother.

Without the change, we wouldn’t have had this gem in Friday’s paper in the obituary of Trent Tate, 51, of Rantoul. Mr. Tate had seven surviving children and three more proceeded him in death. The obituary continued:

In deepest regret, there are more children unknown to the family, but our prayers go out to them.

I’m not sure if one can read that without eyes popping out of one’s head.