Close relationships and community mattered more than wealth or status. Family roles, service to others, faith, traditions, and purposeful work consistently shaped how people were remembered. Personal character traits such as kindness and generosity were also highlighted.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: @elisolitas;

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that values like tradition and caring for others featured prominently in many obituaries. Obituary language also changed across major historical events, including after 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysing the obituaries offered researchers a way to trace broad cultural values and how Americans remember what mattered most in life.