Scientists crack ultimate answer to the meaning of life in obituaries

"Scientists on a mission to uncover what constitutes a life well lived found the answer after analyzing 38 million obituaries from the US spanning 30 years. Using automated text analysis tools, the team found that the most commonly celebrated values were tradition and benevolence. Nearly 80 percent of obituaries highlighted respect for customs or religion, while 76 percent emphasized caring, reliability and trustworthiness."

"'Words like faithful, Bible, missionary, or other references to God were quite prevalent,' lead author David Markowitz, an associate professor at Michigan State University, told the Daily Mail . The study further highlights how values, gender, age and historical context intersect when it comes to remembering the dead. It found that women are consistently remembered for benevolence, men for achievement and structured responsibility, and older adults for tradition."

"At the same time, the study showed that crises such as 9/11, the financial collapse and the Covid-19 pandemic can temporarily shift the social priorities reflected in obituaries, showing that legacy is not just personal but deeply cultural. By mining decades of obituaries, the researchers offered an unprecedented glimpse into the values society honors. The work suggested that what a society celebrates in death reveals as much about the living as it does about the deceased, offering a mirror into cultural ideals"

Analysis of 38 million U.S. obituaries over 30 years using automated text analysis identified tradition and benevolence as the most celebrated values. Nearly 80 percent of obituaries emphasized respect for customs or religion and 76 percent emphasized caring, reliability, and trustworthiness. Language referencing faith, deep spirituality, and communal commitment was common, along with words like wife, mother, caring, or friend. Gender and age patterns emerged: women recalled for benevolence, men for achievement and responsibility, and older adults for tradition. Major crises briefly shifted obituary priorities, reflecting broader cultural values rather than only individual legacy.

Read at Mail Online