© 2025 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Perspective: Eulogies

Aaron Burden
Unsplash
Aaron Burden

I've been thinking about former President Jimmy Carter's legacy ... thanks to my friend Jon, who shared his feelings on Facebook.

During Carter's funeral Jon noted two eulogies had been written years ago by former President Gerald Ford and former Vice President Walter Mondale. Carter outlived them both, so the eulogies were read by their sons.

Then Jon came up with this thought ... he said: "Eulogies are public by definition, but what if we share those words with our friends and special people in our lives while they are still alive? Has anyone ever done that for you? Did you find joy knowing that you had a positive effect on their lives?"

Jon realized that he wants people in his life to know how much they mean to him. Now.

I agree. You can tell them in person, of course. But I can say from experience that writing it out allows an important personal release of feelings and things unsaid. It becomes part of the record, part of their life story that's easy to reread or share.

Sharing honest feelings is a gift. Jimmy Carter gave that gift. Maybe it’s that perfect gift for a close friend or family member ... or your partner in life.

Many people in my life are important to me. Do they know that? Probably. But there should be more. There’s probably a story that should be told and remembered.

So put it in writing. For them to read. While they can.

I’m Lonny Cain … and that’s my Perspective.

Lonny Cain, a graduate of the journalism program at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, has been in the newspaper business for more than 45 years. He and his wife have three sons. They live in Ottawa, where he was managing editor of the local daily newspaper for 30 years, retiring in December 2014. He continues to be a columnist for The Times in Ottawa and is pursuing other writing projects.