Controversial Obituary of Mother Placed by Siblings - Research Paper Example

 Controversial Obituary of Mother Placed by Siblings On February 11, 2012, Josie Anello passed away at the age of 94. Only three days after her death, her obituary was published in the Tampa Tribune newspaper informing the general public about the death. From the initial two lines, it read as a normal and respectful obituary. However, the third line struck to the readers as ‘strange’ (Reilly, 2012). It said that Anello was saved by her younger son, betrayed by her daughter Ninfa and her heart was broken by her elder son, Peter. The obituary was published by Angello ‘A.J.’ Anello who was the younger son of Josie Anello and so called her savior (Meacham, 2012). The third line of obituary became the most controversial issue and it started an online debate where two different types of viewpoints emerged. The first group consider A.J. Anello’s obituary as ‘disrespectful’ whereas the second group hold the opinion that his message was purely based on truth (Reilly, 2012). Josie Anello lived her entire life peacefully in Tampa as a cigar factory worker. She had two sons and a daughter. Peter was the eldest son, Ninfa Simpson was the only daughter and A.J. Anello was the youngest son. Mrs. Simpson, 65, placed another obituary of her mother, on February 15, 2012, without accusing anyone. She stated her mother’s age as 93 whereas, A.J. states as 94 (Meacham, 2012). A.J. defended his position by claiming that his message was not intended as ‘spiteful’, instead, it was to highlight the truth that his mother died in his arms alone. Furthermore, he clarified that his third line was not his mother’s statement but his own. A.J. told the reporters that Ninfa used their mother’s social security checks for their vacations to Branson, Mo and Alaska. Peter had broken his mother’s heart because he left their family for about 25 years and did not speak to anyone. McAfee, 2012). On the other hand, Ninfa informed the reporters that her brother’s accusations about her are false and spiteful. Instead, it was him who used mother’s credit cards and also spends all her savings. Furthermore, she accepted the accusations regarding Peter as true. Ninfa said that her relationship with her brother were normal but when his father died in 2007, her brother wanted to get more control over Mrs. Anello. Therefore, he had restricted all family members from meeting their mother without going without him (Lianna, 2012). But when A.J. Anello was asked about this statement, he denied it by stating that their mother lived, part of 2010 and 2011, with Ninfa in North Caroline and then moved to Land O’ Lakes to live with A.J. Anello (Reilly, 2012). The obituary of Josie Anello, placed by her younger son A.J. Anello, and the statements of both siblings became the most controversial issue on the Internet. The Internet readership varies from middle aged to elderly people who had a mixed reaction towards the incident. The middle aged group included two groups, namely: advocates of A.J. Anello and supporters of Ninfa. But, the majority of the respondents belonged to the latter group. As the common perception about the accusations of A.J. Anello as the part of his mother’s obituary was considered as wrong and disrespectful. The Internet viewers argued that arguments exist among siblings, however, it is wrongful to publicize it and through an obituary. Another controversial issue in the obituary was the age of Josie Anello. A.J. Anello placed the age of his mother as 94 but all other records and also the obituary placed by Ninfa showed the age of her mother as 93. The supporters of Ninfa criticized A.J Anello by stating that if he had more focus on the obituary, than accusing his brother and sister, he could be able to state his mother’s age right. The elderly group criticized A.J Anello by stating that it is very unethical that he put words in the mouth of his dead mother so that she cannot come to confirm or reject it and also that no mother may want public humility of her family. They said that even, if she said all that A.J. Anello should not publish it in the name of his mother. They also said that A.J should not hurt his brother and sister when they were already disturbed and grieved because of their mother’s death (Lianna , 2012). Furthermore, there is a viewpoint of the elderly group that A.J. Anello did not have any love for his mother. Otherwise, he would have respected the memory of his mother and did not have publicized the personal issues in the public. They were of the view that A.J. Anello did this only to show vengeance to his siblings because he did not get his share of the money that his mother left. The advocates of A.J. Anello range from 20-25 years old people. They were of the view that A.J. Anello did the right thing by telling the truth. They supported A.J. Anello that now is the right time to do justice and expose the wrongdoings of his brother and sister (Park, 2012). These young people think that A.J Anello wrote this obituary in the light of his mother’s sayings as he loved her a lot. They gave the opinion that A.J. Anello’s elder brother really broke their mother’s heart as he did not speak even to his mother for about 25 years and every mother has right to be loved and respected by her children and A.J. wrote all this, in obituary, in respect and love of his mother (Florida, 2012). A.J. Anello’s act of accusing his siblings through his mother’s obituary was taken negatively as well as positively on the Internet. The elderly people disliked the act and thought it as one ugly act to take vengeance over one’s siblings after the elderly parents have departed from this world. On the other hand, the youngsters thought it as a means of telling the truth to the world and a fair way. References ‘Florida’, (2012). Florida Women’s Obituary includes Children Dispute. ABC News Radio. Retrieved 8 April 2012 from http://abcnewsradioonline.com/national-news/florida-womans-obituary-includes-childrens-dispute.html Lianna, B., (2012). Obituary Ethics: The Anello Family Follies. Retrieved 8 April 2012 from http://ethicsalarms.com/2012/02/25/obituary-ethics-the-anello-family-follies/ McAfee, T., (2012). Siblings Squabble Ruins Mother’s Obit. Retrieved 8 April 2012 from http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/weird/Sibling-Squabble-Ruins-Mothers-Obit-140179083.html Meacham, A., (2012). Kids Dispute makes Obit of Mom, Josie Anello of Land O’ Lakes, Famous on Internet. Retrieved 8 April 2012 from http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1216691.ece Park, A., (2012). How Grief Can Break Your Heart. Retrieved 8 April 2012 from http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/10/how-grief-can-break-your-heart/ Reilly, J., (2012). Obituary of 94 years old Woman goes Viral. Retrieved 8 April 2012 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2105992/Josie-Anello-Obituary-94-year-old-woman-goes-viral.html Read More