A Washington man, like all of us, knew he was going to die someday. What he apparently didn’t expect was to take the last word quite so literally. A 51-year-old Olympia, Washington, father and Army veteran, Michael De Simone, wrote his own obituary before his death on Aug. 21 following a cardiac event, leaving behind a farewell that was equal parts funny, blunt and deeply affectionate.
The Chronicle published his obituary, which I implore everyone to read in full, and it has since attracted widespread online attention. De Simone opened the obituary in a way that immediately sounded more like him than a traditional death notice. It was also shared on X by The New York Post and others.
“Michael De Simone regrettably informs you that he is no longer alive.”
He quickly acknowledged that his death had come earlier than he wanted.
“This was not the plan.” He explained that he had expected to have more time to do the things he still wanted to do before joking that his mind and body had essentially disagreed about the matter.
Even death could not stop De Simone from making a joke. He wrote that he had “exited the world the way he entered it: eating pizza.” He also pointed out that while 51 might be young for a human, it was quite old for a dog, allowing him to leave the world knowing he had outlived plenty of them.
But the humor eventually gave way to something much more personal. De Simone wrote about his wife, Daisy, whom he described as his sweetheart. The two met in high school, served in the Army, raised children and eventually became grandparents.
“They never stopped being sweethearts, and forever sweethearts they remain,” he wrote.
Washington Reacts To Touching Last Words
He also wrote about his daughters, Johanna and Dani, saying his love for them was “greater than creation.” That mix of humor and genuine affection appears to have resonated with strangers who encountered the obituary after his death.
One person called it “WOW! What a read! He continues to impact people who never met him through this incredible obituary.”
Another said, “He expected to be alive somewhat longer in order to do many more things. Unfortunately, there was some measure of disagreement between his mind and his body, and the arguments made by his body were, in the end, more persuasive.” – Might be one of the greatest things I’ve ever read.“
De Simone’s funeral was held Friday in Centralia, Washington. His final message ultimately did something remarkable. Instead of simply telling people that he had died, it gave strangers a glimpse into the man he had been, which left many of them wishing they had known him while he was still here.
