No one's laughing
By MICHELLE LANG
of The Leader-Post
Neil Ross woke up Saturday morning to read his own obituary in The Leader-Post.
The 25-year-old Regina resident is alive and well, but a fake death notice said he passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 29.
His family can only conclude that someone was playing a sick April Fool's joke on them.
"Whoever did this probably thinks they're a practical joker, but this has gone way too far. This is not funny," said Shirley Ross, Neil's mother.
The obituary featured one of Neil's elementary school pictures.
It read: "Beloved son of Bob and Shirley, ÉNeil will be remembered best for his sparkling personality, and (will be) sorely missed by all whom he touched."
Neil was not particularly shaken up by seeing his own obituary.
But Shirley immediately began receiving phone calls offering condolences from distraught friends and family.
"We've received numerous phone calls from relatives and friends. This was kind of devastating for people," she said.
The Ross family can't think who placed the ad. They assume it was a friend or someone who knew Neil in school, since the ad had his photo in it.
The Regina Police Service didn't see the humour in the advertisement either.
Police are investigating the matter and Staff Sgt. Pat Duck said if the culprit is found, he or she could be charged under the Criminal Code with relaying false messages.
The charge is an indictable offence and carries a prison term of up to two years.
Neil's obituary also said funeral arrangements were in care of Speers Funeral Chapel.
Ron McEachern, president of Speers, said the ad should be held up as an example of a practical joke gone wrong.
"I'm assuming it was a young person who doesn't realize these are not the things you joke about. It is hurtful to everyone involved, especially grandparents and older people who are of a different generation and won't see this as a joke," said McEachern.
