When this newspaper’s publisher purchased The Suburban News, it was decided that I would continue to write an opinion column for the new paper, the Lakes Region Suburban Weekly.

To avoid the inevitable confusion in such a business move, the name of the column had to be changed – and so, The Last Word (which I always like to have) became The Good Word (a much better goal).

Along the way I agreed to prepare the obituaries – and I guess that would be called The Final Word.

People have asked if it is depressing to work on obituaries. It’s not depressing at all. It’s sad, sometimes, especially when the subject is very young, but most of the time, I find it fascinating. Each week I learn about a person I would like to have known – I read about their interesting lives and how they are remembered. A whole biography program could be produced with some of these folks’ histories.

At this particular time of our lives, there isn’t a week that goes by without the loss of several of our “Greatest Generation,” the World War II men and many women. This is sometimes revealing, to find out about their heroic past in the days when most of them were in their late teens or early 20s – and I can’t help but compare this to today, when young men and women are away from their families, too.

I learn about the women who were known as “gram” to most of the people who will remember them and that before they became “gram” they worked on Liberty ships during World War II. Some women, who are described as homemakers, may have also been nurses on some faraway battlefield. Absolutely fascinating!

The Final Word, the obituary, I think of as a kind of resume, a summary of what’s been accomplished, highlighting the special interests. When I read of all the medals and awards someone has received, I always wonder why we never knew that? Especially when the subject is someone I’ve known for years.

One of the other hats I wear is that of researcher for genealogy, so it’s very important to have the correct dates and place of birth in an obituary. Eventually, these records become historical documents. And while they aren’t primary resources, they sure are the first place people look when they want data about their ancestors.

For many newspaper readers, the sports page is the first section they turn to; for many others, it is the obituary section. In today’s world, with the headlines and so-called news of questionable value, it’s worthwhile to review the real lives and deeds of those who paved the way.

One of the many things I’ve learned among these Final Words is that tomorrow’s genealogists are going to have a real challenge (they call them brick walls) in front of them when they try to link up the various people in a family tree. When once upon a time there was the family comprised of father, mother, children – today we include partners, step-relatives and since people live longer, great-great relatives are not uncommon. Even step-great-great. It’s a punctuation nightmare! But it’s the Final Word.

See you next week.