He wasn’t the only person penning his own goodbye; obit watchers have noticed a recent increase in self-written death notices. Carolyn Gilbert, founder of the International Association of Obituarists, says she’s seen obit trends come and go over the past few decades, but “not like this. I think this one’s here to stay.” Scores of Web sites and even some funeral homes now offer tips on writing your own obituary (some with fill-in-the-blank “templates”). Some motivational speakers have adopted the practice, touting the self-written obit as a life-affirming road map for the still living. Why take matters into your own hands? Sometimes the dearly departed want to send out a fond farewell from beyond the grave; other times the aim is to settle old scores. A big selling point is artistic freedom. “If you’re reading this,” read one recent Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal obit, “I’m probably already dead.”
