Woman Reads Her Obituary in Newspaper as Her Funeral Takes Place across the Street – Story of the Day

A wealthy woman suspects her greedy, dishonest son is eager to inherit her money and conjures up a plan to unmask him.

When Susan Larson retired at the age of 55 from her job as CEO of a multinational corporation, she was looking forward to finally having time to enjoy life.

Unfortunately, she had been widowed at a young age and had raised her son alone. Susan was pretty, intelligent, and funny, but she had turned down every proposal. She lived for her son, and she never imagined he didn't cherish her, his only parent.

Susan raised her son alone after she was widowed. | Source: Unsplash

Susan had lunch with her son a week after her retirement and started to share with him her plans for the next year: "So I'm renting a villa in Nice, or Monte Carlo, then I'll go to Tuscany..."

Her son Gary frowned. "A VILLA in Nice? Monte Carlo?" he asked. "Mom, can you even afford that?"

Susan laughed. "Hun, I can afford to do that every year until the day I die," she said. "Even if I live to be a hundred!"

"I didn't know you had that much money," Gary commented. "I know you had a big salary..."

Susan decided to retire at the age of fifty-five. | Source: Unsplash

"I had a share package agreement," Susan explained. "I sold the shares back to the company, and believe me, I can afford anything I want. When I die you will be quite well-off, Gary."

"Please, mom!" Gary said, shuddering. "Don't even talk about such a morbid thing! I need you here, alive, more than I need any amount of money!"

Susan leaned over and gave her son a gentle kiss. "My sweet baby boy!" she smiled. "I love you so much!"

Susan told his son about her retirement plans. | Source: Unsplash

But over the next few months, Susan had the feeling something was wrong with Gary. When he was with her he always seemed in high spirits, but she sometimes saw him brooding.

She asked him what was wrong but he always said everything was alright. Then Susan noticed that every time Gary visited, something would go missing.

Once it was a tiny but very valuable 18th century Dresden porcelain figurine that had been her mother's, then a sterling silver candle holder, and an old gold and amethyst bracelet. Susan knew that Gary must have taken the objects, probably to sell. But why hadn't he asked her for money?

"So I'm renting a villa in Nice, or Monte Carlo..." | Source: Unsplash

Then one Sunday, she saw him rummaging under the hood of her car. Susan waited until Gary left, then popped the hood and looked at the engine. "I don't even know what I'm looking at!" she sighed.

The next morning, she called her mechanic and asked him to pop around and take a look at her car. The man started fiddling under the hood, then he stood up and looked at Susan.

"Mrs. Larson," he said. "Thank God you called me and didn't drive this car. Your brake line had been cut. You could have been killed."

"Killed?" asked Susan, shocked, and a terrible sadness filled her heart. Her son had cut her brake lines. Gary wanted her dead?

Susan had the feeling something was wrong with Gary. | Source: Unsplash

The sweet boy she'd raised with such love would never do that... But Gary had become someone she didn't even know and he felt no loyalty towards his own mother.

Susan was an intelligent, resourceful woman and she made a plan. The next day, Gary received a phone call from his mother's best friend, Martha.

"Oh, Gary," she cried. "I'm so sorry. The police called me. Susan was in an accident and she's gone..."

Martha went on to reassure Gary that she was taking care of everything, including the obituary and the funeral. "It's the least I can do for you and for her!" Martha sobbed.

The mechanic told Susan someone had cut her brake line. | Source: Pexels

Three days later, Gary and a large group of Susan's friends -- including Martha -- attended a memorial service for Susan.

What Gary didn't notice was that a woman with dark glasses was in a cafe across the street reading a newspaper. It was Susan reading the obituary section: "Beloved mother and friend Susan Larson was tragically killed in an accident at the age of 55.

Mrs. Larson's memorial service will take place..."

Susan smiled. It was perfect! She crossed the street and stood at the back as several people paid homage to her. Then a downcast Gary took center stage.

"No one will miss my mother more than I," he said with tears in his eyes. "She was my world, my everything! I don't know how I will survive..."

Gary looked very sad at the memorial service. | Source: Pexels

Then a clear ringing voice interrupted him. "I'm sure the money will help!" Gary looked towards the back of the hall and gasped.

It was Susan! She took off her dark glasses and walked toward him. Behind her were several police officers.

"Mom?" he gasped, turning a pasty white. "You're alive?"

Gary was arrested for attempted murder. | Source: Pexels

The police arrested Gary for attempted murder and he spent several very miserable years in state prison, while Susan carried out her plan of traveling around the world.

What can we learn from this story?

• The people closest to you may be the least trustworthy. Susan never imagined her beloved son was willing to kill to get his hands on her money.
• Listen to your intuition, it may save your life. Susan was lucky that she called her mechanic or she might have been killed when her brakes failed.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a boy who finds out on his 18th birthday that he is adopted and lashes out against his parents, but then he learns the truth about his biological mother.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com