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| funny in death |
| 07.19.05 (11:04 am) [edit] |
Family's dark humor revealed in death noticeCharles Storch, Tribune staff reporter, Published July 18, 2005 Paid death notices rarely have interest beyond a deceased's family and friends, but not one that appeared July 2 in the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer. Dorothy Gibson Cully, 86, mother of four, had died peacefully June 3 while in the "loving care of her two favorite children." "All of her breath leaked out," readers were told -- and lots more. According to Ted Vaden, the paper's public editor, the death notice became an instant sensation. Sharp-eyed readers began e-mailing friends about it. Within a week, "there already was a lot of talk," he said. ... The notice was written by a son of the deceased, David Cully, 60, who works in property development in the Raleigh area. In an interview last week, Cully described his as a "very close, loving Irish family," one with a touch of the poet and an irreverence about death. "These are the things we talk about when death is at the door," he said. He said many people who contacted him and his siblings recognized the dark humor in the death notice, but others assumed, mistakenly, there was a bitter rift in the family. As you will see, he writes about his sister Carol being away at "a posh Florida resort" while their mother was dying. But Carol's version, he said, is that "Mom was fine when she left her in my and [sister] Barbara's care, and we killed her." Meet the Cullys, and appreciate their mom. - - - The death notice (As it appeared) On June 3, 2005 at 10:45 p.m. in Memphis, Tenn., Dorothy Gibson Cully, 86, died peacefully, while in the loving care of her two favorite children, Barbara and David. All of her breath leaked out. The mother of four children, grandmother to 11, great-grandmother to nine, devoted wife for 56 years to the late Ralph Chester Cully and a true friend to many, Dot had been active as a volunteer in the Catholic Church and other community charities for much of the past 25 years. She was born the second child of six in 1919 as Frances Dorothy Gibson, daughter to Kathleen Heard Gibson and Calvin Hooper Gibson, an inventor best known as the first person since the Middle Ages to calculate the arcane lead-to-gold formula. Unable to actually prove this complex theory scientifically, and frustrated by the cruel conspiracy of the so-called "scientific community" working against his efforts, he ultimately stuck his head in a heated gas oven with a golden delicious apple propped in his mouth. Miraculously, the apple was saved for the evening dessert. Calvin was not. Native Marylanders and longtime Baltimore, Kent Island and Ocean City residents, Ralph and Dot later resided in Lakeland, Fla., and Virginia Beach, Va.. Several years after Ralph's death, Dot moved to Raleigh in 2001, where she lived with her son David. At the time of her death, Dot was visiting her daughter Carol in Memphis. Carol and her husband, Ron, away from home attending a "very important conference" at a posh Florida resort, rushed home 10 days later after learning of the death. Dot's other children, dutifully at their mother's side helping with the normal last-minute arrangements -- hospice notification, funeral parlor notice, revising the will, etc. -- happily picked up the considerable slack of the absent former heiress. Dot is warmly remembered as a generous, spiritually strong, resourceful, tolerant and smart woman, who was always ready to help and never judged others or their shortcomings. Dot always found time to knit sweaters, sew quilts and send written notes to the family children, all while working a full-time job, volunteering as Girl Scout leader and donating considerable time to local charities and the neighborhood Catholic Church. Dot graduated from Eastern High School at 15, worked in Baltimore full time from 1934 to 1979, beginning as a factory worker at Cross & Blackwell and retiring after 30 years as property manager and controller for a Baltimore conglomerate, Housing Engineering Company, all while raising four children, two of who are fairly normal. An Irishwoman proud of and curious about her heritage, she was a voracious reader of historical novels, particularly those about the glories and trials of Ireland. Dot also loved to travel, her favorite destination being Eire's auld sod, where she dreamed of the magic, mystery and legend of the Emerald Isle. Dot Cully is survived by her sisters, Ginny Torrico in Virginia, Marian Lee in Florida and Eileen Adams in Baltimore; her brother, Russell Gibson of Fallston, Md.; her children, Barbara Frost of Ocean City, Md., Carol Meroney of Memphis, Tenn., David Cully of Raleigh, N.C. and Stephen Cully of Baltimore, Md. Contributions to the Wake County (N.C.) Hospice Services are welcomed. Opinions about the details of this obit are not, since Mom would have liked it this way. |
posted by: almsthvn (reply)
post date: 07.19.05 (2:56 pm)
that is fabulous. I hope Katie does something similar for me - a long time from now
posted by: islandArtist (reply)
post date: 07.20.05 (8:44 am)
I love that.
"Miraculously, the apple was saved for the evening dessert. Calvin was not."
absolutely classic, just like the old dame I'm sure.
posted by: FinalyFree (reply)
post date: 07.20.05 (9:05 am)
One of the funniest things I've ever read, thanks for bringing it to us :)
posted by: themarina (reply)
post date: 07.20.05 (9:11 am)
Woohoo! That was awesome! I can only hope that my children will know me well enough to know that I'd love an obit like this one! :)
Thanks for sharing this little gem!
posted by: trekguy (reply)
post date: 07.21.05 (2:38 am)
Great! Thanks for sharing it!!
posted by: almsthvn (reply)
post date: 07.21.05 (5:37 am)
Here's some lovin for JT!
Hump! Hump! Hump!!
*giggle
posted by: JT (reply)
post date: 07.23.05 (5:05 pm)
Reply to: islandArtist
That's my favorite part. What a cool family.
posted by: MissJane (reply)
post date: 08.02.05 (10:03 am)
very cool
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