Let’s Chat: Write your story

By Linda Tooth on February 12, 2025.

Sharing your life story is challenging yet rewarding at the same time. Challenging in the fact that everyone who reads it is now privy to the successes and failures you have experienced during your life, but rewarding in that you are publicly, for all to read, thanking those who have been a part of your life.

Can you imagine sharing your life story in the form of your own obituary, written by you?

Traditionally the writing of an obituary is the responsibility of a family member or close friend of the deceased. The obituary usually includes a brief synopsis of the deceased’s life, it will mention surviving family members and those who have passed away before them, funeral arrangements (if there are any) and any charities that one can donate to in memory of that person.

Every day that the Medicine Hat News is available, I read the obituaries to see who has passed away in a community I have called home for more than 40 years. Nosey, maybe.

I jokingly tell people I am making sure I am not one of the people featured in the obits. If I am not, then I know it is going to be a good day. I was very intrigued just recently when an obituary was long in length. I thought about who this person was and what their story was.

It became clear at the beginning of this obituary that the person who passed was the person who wrote it. They knew that their day was coming, and they put into words their story for all to read. Now I am very invested in this person’s life and what they have to say.

I did not know Shannon Hausauer, but I feel as if I did. She told her story her way, and I admire that.

From her early years in Ontario, to a first marriage she describes as, “I didn’t get it right the first time,” to her life ending while married to who she describes as “her steadfast supporter.”

She also goes on to share that her friendships, both human and pets, were an important part of her life. Shannon led her life to the fullest and wanted everyone to know they were important to her. I admire that in a person and want to live my life that way.

Her use of words to describe what she wanted people to know is what I have taken from her obituary. She describes her job in corrections as the “best decision I ever made,” to attending reunions with co-workers and her mantra of, “If I can make a small difference in somebody’s life, I’m doing my job well.”

She said, “Meeting and making new friends was always rewarding.”

She also believed that not only had her life been enhanced by the impact she had on others, but also by the impact they had on her.

Shannon, your life sounds amazing and well lived. We should all take a few ideas from this beautifully written life story and try to implement them into our lives.

Shannon’s obituary ended with a quote from Emily Dickinson, an American poet. I would like to end with this Emily Dickinson quote.

“To love is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.”

Have a Meowtastic Day and keep reading!

Linda Tooth is a part-time communications instructor at Medicine Hat College

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