Margie Taylor, a resident of Port Moody, British Columbia, has offered a candid reflection on the clichés she hopes to avoid in her own obituary. Drawing from her experience writing obituaries for family members, Taylor shared a personal guide for friends and relatives who may one day write about her passing.

Taylor makes clear that she does not want to be described using commonly embraced terms like “courageous” or “brave” in reference to her approach to death or illness. She acknowledges that while she does not consider herself a coward, she has never been inclined toward traditionally courageous acts such as extreme sports or other daring feats. She is candid about the likelihood that, if confronted with a terminal illness, she would not “fight the good fight” but possibly express frustration and blame rather than display stoic resolve.

She also rejects euphemisms often used to soften the impact of death. Taylor advises against phrases such as “passed,” “departed,” “entered into eternal rest,” or “slipped away peacefully,” emphasizing that she simply died, without any implication of choice or serenity. Phrases like “gone to a better place” and “no longer with us” are similarly discouraged, as they either presume beliefs about an afterlife or state the obvious.

Taylor disputes popular obituary tropes, cautioning against platitudes like “taken too soon,” which she believes should be reserved for younger individuals, as she does not consider her death premature. She is also skeptical of expressions suggesting she will be “forever remembered,” noting the vast number of people who have lived and died throughout history and accepting that remembrance is likely to be limited to close family and friends.

Regarding family descriptions, Taylor resists labeling her late husband as her “soulmate,” finding the term overused and diluted in meaning. She describes their 40 years together with affection but without romanticized language.

Taylor further pushes back against typical characterizations in obituaries. She challenges clichés such as “life and soul of the party,” “loved and respected by all,” “never met a stranger,” “lived life to the full,” and “her smile lit up the room,” often questioning their accuracy or the sincerity behind them. Taylor’s tone throughout is underscored with humor and realism, communicating a preference for authenticity over conventional flattery.

Finally, she quips that she would likely not die engaged in an activity she truly loved, unless it happened to be at her laptop with a glass of red wine in hand, reflecting her down-to-earth perspective on life and death.

Taylor’s reflections provide a thoughtful challenge to traditional obituary writing, encouraging an honest and unvarnished approach to remembering individuals.