‘I died of FOMO’: Massachusetts woman’s self-written obituary goes viral after death

In a moving and unusual farewell, Massachusetts resident Linda Brossi Murphy wrote her own obituary months before her death, blending humor with grace.

Murphy passed away on September 21 at the age of 60 after a battle with bulbar-onset ALS, a rare form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Her obituary, shared widely online, has touched thousands and quickly gone viral.

“Well, if you are reading this obituary, it looks like I’m dead. WOW, it actually happened… I died of FOMO due to complications of Bulbar ALS,” she wrote, setting the tone for a message that was both heartfelt and witty.

Murphy, diagnosed with ALS in 2022, described the impact of the disease with candor and humor. “My stupid Bulbar ALS got me to the sad point of not being able to talk. Never speaking means never being able to say, ‘I love you!’ It means not being able to call my Mr. BoJangles over for a snack, and it means not being able to order at the Dunkin’ drive-through,” she wrote.

She also reflected on the everyday challenges of living with ALS, noting how difficult it was to watch her loved ones enjoy “juicy burgers” or “heaping piles of Chinese food” while she could not participate. Despite her struggles, she admitted she tried not to let others see her suffering.

Adding levity, Murphy joked about her marriage of 42 years, writing that she and her husband David, had entered a “thruple” when her respirator, nicknamed “Hosee,” became a nightly presence. “From then on, David woke up next to what looked like a fighter pilot with smooshed hair!” she quipped.

Beyond her humor, Murphy used her obituary to celebrate her family and friends, whom she called “the absolute best thing about my life.” She had previously survived breast cancer in 2012, an experience that inspired her to write a book titled F-Off Cancer, showing her determination to face illness with laughter.

“My favorite pastime was being with my family & friends, hence why FOMO [fear of missing out] did me in! I also adored having fun, anytime, anywhere! No matter what I was doing, I had fun. I was a very happy person to the core,” she wrote in her final message.

Murphy’s self-penned obituary has been widely praised on social media, with many calling her a “legendary woman” who found a way to leave behind not just sorrow, but joy and inspiration.