Exceptional Surviving ''grandchildren'' get top billing Unconventional Obituary by Elizabeth Emerald Artwork by cleo85 at FanArtReview.com

When my father died, on June 27, 2003, my mother and sister drafted a death notice that was to appear in The New York Times. The newspaper's obituary department provided a template on which to enter the standard information: date of birth, date of death, surviving spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings. With my mother's encouragement, my sister, who has no human children, wrote in  the names of her dog and cats under grandchildren. Forty-nine years prior, my father's brother tried to talk him out of marrying my mother. My mother availed herself of the opportunity to wreak petty revenge. The obituary duly appeared in The New York Times: ... survived by wife, Dorothy; daughters Elizabeth and Nancy; grandchildren (mine) Douglas, Daniel, Lauren ... (hers) Zachary, Jackie, Sweet Pea ... ... and his brother, Robert.  My uncle lived out of state, so my mother thoughtfully mailed him two copies, on one of which she'd underlined the survivor list in red pencil.   Recognized

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