Obituaries serve as a repository for the aspects of cherished individuals that families most desire to commemorate. Over extended periods, they also illuminate the principles that each epoch elected to venerate.
Within a research initiative detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an exhaustive analysis was conducted on 38 million obituaries pertaining to American citizens, spanning the years from 1998 to 2024. This investigation aimed to ascertain the values most frequently emphasized by grieving families and to track their evolution across generational cohorts, geographical areas, and significant historical occurrences.
In collaboration with esteemed psychologists Liane Young and Thomas Mazzuchi, the study specifically scrutinized the linguistic patterns employed on Legacy.com, an online platform where bereaved families commonly post obituaries and share recollections of their departed kin.
Throughout the course of their terrestrial existence, the majority of individuals are typically guided by a limited constellation of overarching principles such as fostering compassion for others, upholding tradition, ensuring the safety of beloved companions, and pursuing personal development. To comprehend how these core tenets manifested in posthumous tributes, computational text analysis tools, predicated on meticulously curated lexicons of commonly used vernacular pertaining to these thematic areas, were utilized.
Through the examination of recurring terminology within these memorialistic accounts, insights were gained into the values that communities elected to accentuate when reflecting upon the lives of their departed, and how these emphases transformed over time. Given the extensive scope of the dataset, encompassing 38 million obituaries, the computational processing was executed on a high-performance supercomputer.
Spanning a period of nearly three decades of published obituaries, terms associated with the value of “tradition” emerged with the greatest frequency, with numerous tributes referencing religious observances and enduring customs. Furthermore, language pertaining to “benevolence”—the act of caring for the well-being of others—was consistently prominent.
Indeed, tradition and benevolence constituted the predominant value profile across the entirety of the dataset, appearing in over 70 percent of the submitted obituaries. In stark contrast, terminology associated with values such as “achievement” and “power” was encountered significantly less frequently.
The imprint of historical events was demonstrably evident.
Subsequent to the September 11, 2001, attacks, a discernible alteration in the lexicon employed by families to memorialize their loved ones was observed when contrasted with the period immediately preceding the events; these modifications persisted for a minimum of one year. Lexicon linked to the value of “security”—encompassing terms such as “surviving,” “health,” and “order”—was employed with diminished frequency.
Concurrently, families exhibited an increased utilization of language associated with the values of “benevolence” and “tradition.” Terms like “caring,” “loyal,” and “service” appeared more frequently. These shifts were particularly pronounced in the New York region, which bore the brunt of the direct impact of the attacks.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, precipitated the most substantial transformations. Commencing in March 2020, language reflecting benevolence—including terms such as “love,” “sympathy,” and “family”—experienced a precipitous decline and has not subsequently reverted to prior levels. Terminology related to tradition—encompassing words like “service,” “faith,” and “heritage”—initially saw a reduction, followed by a resurgence above baseline levels during the later phases of the pandemic.
These observed shifts underscore the profound influence of collective disruptions on the moral vernacular that families employ in commemorating their departed. Such events reframe the very definition of a life well-lived.
Additionally, variances were identified that align with prevailing stereotypes regarding gender and age. Obituaries for males tended to incorporate more language associated with achievement, conformity, and authority. Conversely, obituaries for females were characterized by a greater prevalence of language linked to benevolence and the enjoyment of life’s pleasures.
Elderly individuals were frequently recalled for their espousal of tradition.
In contrast, younger adults were often commemorated for their commitment to the welfare of all sentient beings and the natural world, as well as for their inherent motivation towards independent thought and action.
The value constellations present in the obituaries of males demonstrated greater fluctuation across the lifespan compared to those of females. Put differently, the values highlighted in the obituaries of younger and older males exhibited more substantial divergence, whereas the value profiles for women remained comparatively consistent across age groups.
Significance of the Findings
As the most frequently accessed sections of both print publications and digital memorial platforms, obituaries provide invaluable insights into the prevailing values of societies at distinct historical junctures. The most visited sections of print newspapers and online memorial sites, obituaries offer a window into what societies value at different points in time.
This research contributes substantively to the broader scientific discourse surrounding legacy and remembrance. While individuals often harbor strong convictions regarding how they wish to be recalled, empirical data detailing the actual processes of remembrance on a large scale remains comparatively scarce.
Our comprehensive analysis of millions of obituaries serves to bridge this knowledge deficit.
Future Avenues of Exploration
Obituaries offer a valuable mechanism for researchers to trace the evolution of cultural values across temporal, geographical, and socio-demographic divides. Subsequent scholarly endeavors could investigate distinctions based on race and occupational categories, as well as regional variations. Furthermore, an examination of earlier historical periods could be undertaken utilizing archived obituaries, such as those preserved in historical newspapers and local registries.
Another promising research trajectory involves exploring whether the emphasis placed on the frequency of kindness-related terms in obituaries might serve as an inspiration for individuals to cultivate more compassionate behaviors in their daily lives.
Grasping what enduringly resonates in collective memory aids in clarifying what individuals deem significant; these intrinsic values, in turn, profoundly shape their life choices.
