Humorous and Heartfelt Obituary of Massachusetts Woman Goes Viral

Linda Murphy, a resident of Framingham, Massachusetts, wanted her final message to bring laughter and warmth. Following her passing at age 60 after a three-year struggle with Bulbar ALS, her obituary garnered widespread attention for its humor and sincerity.

In her obituary, she wrote, “If you’re reading this, I’m dead. Wow, it actually happened… I died of FOMO caused by complications of Bulbar ALS.” She reminisced about her life, expressing love for her husband of 42 years, David, and her children, calling them “the absolute best part of my life.” Despite being unable to speak for the last year, she managed to jot down her farewell, revealing the emotional toll of her disease.

Murphy humorously lamented missing out on simple pleasures like calling her dog for a snack or ordering at a drive-through, describing her experience with ALS as “sitting at the table while others indulge in juicy burgers or pasta.” She shared her journey through surviving breast cancer before her diagnosis with ALS in 2022 and her efforts to keep her struggles private, despite the overwhelming burden of her condition.

She even planned her own funeral — choosing her casket, music, and a celebration dance party. Murphy also joked about her “superpower” of drinking without a hangover, humorously questioning why she didn’t “die of liver failure.” Before her death, she donated her brain and spinal cord for ALS research, urging loved ones to honor her with kindness.

Her final request was for only “nice, loving people” to attend her wake, asking those with negative energy to stay away. She urged everyone to be kind and spread positivity, emphasizing that there’s little reason for negativity in life.

Her daughter, Justine Hastings, recalled her mother’s determination, even early in her diagnosis, as she challenged doctors to prove her wrong by self-diagnosing with ALS. Hastings expressed pride in her mother’s legacy of humor and resilience, sharing that many found inspiration in her story and wishing they could have shared a glass of wine with her.