A wry obituary in an Australian newspaper has sent thousands of people into fits of laughter around the world, even in Britain.
An obituary for Jennifer Ann Kelly, 88, was shared in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday after she died of pneumonia on October 28 while in palliative care.
Mrs Kelly was described as a ‘wild and strong-willed mum’, with several amusing details emerging, including that she ‘developed great drugs’.
Her son Sean, 61, revealed this was just the tip of the iceberg when she told Daily Mail Australia about a family dinner where she stocked the food and got everyone high.
“She believed that exposing young people to religion was a form of child abuse,” the obituary said.
‘It was impossible to watch the news in her presence because of her vocal outrage at the way the country is being run. She had a particular contempt for John Howard.
‘My mother was a great drug, never wanted to leave a party and would regularly give up champagne or gin, but never at the same time.
‘Her rare attempts at ‘responsible’ parenting or grandparenting were always moving. News about what’s next to follow. Bring a shovel.’
Jennifer Kelly, 88, died of pneumonia, while a wry and moving obituary of her son meant many readers wished they had known her
The obituary has spread like wildfire across social media, with complete strangers praising its ironic tone.
Sean, a successful lawyer in Sydney, added that his mother had lived her life at her own pace, with relaxed parenting and an emphasis on kindness, and that both his parents were thinking “very much outside the square”.
He said his carefree mother had a relaxed approach to raising herself and Chris, but made sure they adhered to two strict edicts.
“The things we would have gotten in trouble for were blatant dishonesty, or any kind of violence, or anything nasty,” he said.
“But they weren’t picky, if we got caught with a little weed or something like that, that wasn’t the intention.”
Sean said his mother never believed she could take charge of what her children did all her life, not because of a lack of care.
“She would sometimes find my notes when I was wagging school, and my practice notes and things like that,” he said.
“She would correct the spelling. She was quite funny.”
Sean remembered the day his father’s family came to visit their house. Mrs. Kelly adjusted her recipe for the pre-meal filling.
“She once spiked the turkey with narcotics and stoned all of my father’s elderly relatives out of their heads,” he said.
“We were kids, we didn’t like the filling, so they kept us away from it. But my dad was involved and unbeknownst to them, they all got stoned, and we ended up having to play tubular bells around 11 o’clock.
“I remember sitting outside with my brother and thinking, ‘When are these people going?’ The shameful thing is that they never knew. We never told them.
Mrs. Kelly didn’t have many rules for her children, she just wanted them to be fair
“They kept asking for more fillings, they had no idea they were all stoned,” Mr. Kelly said, laughing.
Sean said it was difficult to watch his mother die, but Mrs Kelly’s livelihood had deteriorated over time due to illness.
“In the end it was actually a mercy because the quality of life was no longer there and her cognition was very poor,” he said.
“But it was quite sad to see my mother die, which will take some time,” he said.
Mrs. Kelly is survived by Sean and Chris Kelly, and Sean’s adult children, Jack, Sophie and Daniel.
Online, those who read the obituary said they wished they had met the “amazing” mother.
“I have no idea who this recently deceased person was,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“But this obituary is so freaking cool that I really wish I had the chance to get to know this Jennifer.
“She sounds like she was absolutely amazing,” one man wrote online.
‘I wish I knew Jennie, she sounds great. Rest in paradise,” one woman wrote on the death message board.
“Your mother sounds phenomenal. The wonderful tribute has reached thousands of people in Britain,” said another.
“Jenny clearly lived until she died.”