I finally have the smoking hot body I have always wanted…

Mom had Alzheimer‘s. She was young when she was diagnosed. She spent almost 18 years in confusion and uncertainty. Writing her obituary in first person, gave mom back her voice. Her voice that had been silent, except for mumbles and incoherent words, for many years. Mom’s riotous sense of humour was revealed and it felt like her final good-bye.

Mom’s obituary was spotted by Jim Polling -Editor in Chief, Waterloo Region Record who sent out a tweet. That single tweet ending up sending mom viral!

We received so many calls and emails for interviews about mom’s obituary - the world responded so favourably. It was evident that mom’s truly hilarious nature was captured and adored by those who read “her“ final words.

I must admit that the writing of this, may have been assisted by some very expensive wine over dinner with two of my 4 siblings. After several readings, and what we thought was a hilarious good-bye there was a little niggling that perhaps this should be run-by our youngest brother, Bruce. He after all, had, what would you say?… not low morals but perhaps… questionable humour. We felt we should read it to him and get some feedback. After speed dialing Bruce in Vancouver and doing a purposeful read of mom’s final goodbye, we were met with silence and a slow…”UHM…..I don’t know about that” …which of course took us by shock and surprise and we thought wow ..if Bruce doesn’t think it is appropriate then it must be really bad! it must have been the wine that made us think it was so good.

After reading and re-reading with yet another bottle of wine..we felt that perhaps we should call dad and get his feedback. My sister called him and put him on speaker phone after explaining that mom did not deserve a canned obituary template, ”I lived, I died, the end” …that was not Sybil. Brenda asked dad to at least hear us out. I read what I had written. Once again and waited for dad to response. There was a brief moment of silence, followed by another and then we heard a sound that was a slight wheeze…dad was laughing! His response was, “it’s perfect and I hope her eulogy follows suit!”

And so the final product was published (with spelling errors of two of her grandchildren’s names) and mom travelled the world as she had always dreamed. At mom’s funeral, there were flowers and messages from across the world, from the Reddit community and other internet followers who felt touched by mom’s obituary. It truly was a Sybil good-bye.

Obituary for Sybil Marie Hicks (nee Lyons)

It hurts me to admit it… but I, Mrs. Ron Hicks from Baysville, have passed away. I passed peacefully with my eldest daughter, Brenda, by my side February 2, 2019 at 8:20 am.

I leave behind my loving husband, Ron Hicks, whom I often affectionately referred to as a “Horse’s Ass”.

I also left behind my children whom I tolerated over the years; Bob (with Carol) my oldest son and also my favourite. Brian (with Ginette) who was the Oreo cookie favourite, Brenda AKA “Hazel” who would run to clean the bathrooms when she heard company was coming. Barbara (with Gordon) the ever Miss Perfect and finally Baby Bruce who wouldn’t eat homemade turkey soup because he didn’t want to be alert looking for bones while he ate.

I will miss seeing my sweetest grandchildren; Caitlin, Megan, Joel, Issaac, Mason, Rachel, Annie, Emma, Harrison, Clark, Choe, Orion, Griffin …grow up to be the incredible people they are meant to be.

I graduated from Waterdown High School with honors while wearing my shiny bright saddle shoes. I later graduated from Hamilton General Hospital School Nursing class of 1957B – Best Class EVER!

In 1972 Ron and loaded the car with the 5- B’s and headed north to run a school bus company for over 20 years in Baysville, Ontario. I was an active horticulturalist, a member of the Eastern Star and a member of the Lion’s Club in Baysville.

I finally have the smoking hot body I have always wanted… having been cremated.

Please come say goodbye and celebrate my wonderful life with my husband and his special friend Dorothy who is now lovingly taking care of my horse’s ass.

For those of you who are wondering who assisted me in writing this… it wasn’t my husband, it wasn’t my oldest, nor was it my youngest…

Thank you all for sharing my life with me. I am off to swim to the buoy and back.

Love,

Sybil

My sister inspired me to start our dad’s obituary. Brenda qualified the writing of it with…, “ I am anxious to read it but not for a VERY long time, okay?!”

When that sad day comes here is the first sentence of his obituary….

So. I am the ”Horse’s Ass”. If you are reading this, it means I have been put out to pasture” …..

Until then…no regrets and laugh lots.

Barb