According to the founder of the US Relationship Obituaries website, not long after she broke up with her boyfriend her father passed away too, effectively plunging her into depression where she was forced to deal with her break-up and her father's funeral arrangements. To her surprise, however, she found relief while writing her father's obituary — it was as if the words had the power to revive her father so that they could relive all the good moments before giving him a proper farewell.

This prompted her to seek the same sense of relief by writing an obituary for her lost relationship.

In fact, we always write about love — either in personal diaries, public blogs, love letters, threat notes, (:p) etc… What is so special about relationship obituaries that give them the power to relieve?

The power perhaps comes from "admitting".

Admitting the loss is real, and that the relationship has really ended; no excuses or alternatives.

Except for the option of a proper farewell.

If we are able to understand and let go of the deceased, then perhaps an obituary for a dead relationship is also a means to give both parties an open heart to let things go.

By Lok Wan