If you were to die today, what would you want people to know about you?

We had the man from Fargo, Douglas Legler, that had one of the shortest obituaries known to man and now this woman, Dorothy McElhaney from Virginia that has one of the best, heartwarming memory obituaries I think I have ever read.

Dorothy's obituary appeared in the August 11th issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and I just couldn't read it fast enough, then I wanted to read it over and over again.

Some of the highlights:

It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that's simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience. But you don't always get what you want in life.

She wrote about marrying the "man of my dreams (tall, with wavy hair and handsome)" as well as the greatest treasure of all:

I’ve always maintained that my greatest treasures call me Nana. That’s not exactly true. You see, the youngest of my grand-angels, Ella Ashley Kramer and Finley Christian Kramer call me “Grand Nana”. … Speaking of titles, I’ve held a few in my day. After a lifetime entering baking and sewing competitions in Ozark County Fairs, I won my last blue ribbons for my famous sugar cookies at the age of 99, taking Best in Show for Chesterfield County and First Place in the State Fair.

The entire obituary reads like an excerpt out of a "Little House on the Prairie" novel. I didn't want it to end, but it did...

So, I was born; I blinked; and it was over. No buildings named after me; no monuments erected in my honor.

But, I DID have the chance to know and love each and every friend as well as all my family members. How much more blessed can a person be?

So in the end, remember, do your best, follow your arrow and make something amazing out of your life. Oh, and never stop smiling.

I would have loved to have known this woman but I have one of my own, my Mom!

Why don't you take a moment and write down some of your memories like Dorothy did. Save them for your grand-angels and great-grand-angels to read when you are long gone. What an amazing, touching way to say goodbye to your family!

You can read the entire obituary here: Dorothy McElhaney - Obituary & Memoriam

You can also read some of the guest book entries on the funeral homes website. Dorothy McElhaney - JT Morriss

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