The death of Michael De Simone, a 51-year-old former military man from Maryland and resident of Olympia, Washington, became a viral phenomenon after the publication of his obituary, which was widely acclaimed on social media as "the best of all time." De Simone died on August 21 from a heart problem, after having suffered a stroke (CVA).
The obituary, published on August 24 by the Centralia Chronicle, had the merit of having been written by Michael himself before his death. His friend Mark Campanella shared the tribute on Facebook, presenting it to his followers. The text began with humor and frankness: "Michael De Simone regrets to inform that he is no longer among us."
The text continued with a humorous and honest tone about life's finitude. "That was not the plan. He expected to live a little longer to do many other things. Unfortunately, there was a certain disagreement between his mind and his body, and the arguments presented by his body were, in the end, more persuasive," a passage from the obituary read.
The publication went viral quickly on social media, earning praise from thousands of users who considered the tribute one of the best ever seen, praising the way Michael faced his own mortality with humor and transparency.
