Dear Judy,
To my real annoyance, my elderly father stipulated in his Will that he wants his original (Russian) last name on his tombstone. He died 2 weeks ago, and now we’re stuck with getting a name on a tombstone that A) bears no resemblance to ours or any of his near relations, since he went to some trouble to change it when he was an new immigrant at age 21. And B) a name that our father himself didn’t like.
And C) A name nobody can pronounce, which it will be practically impossible to get printed right in a newspaper announcement. Also, no one will recognize this name, since he never used it! Who will come to the memorial service?
OK. Think of something please.
Valerie
Dear Valerie,
Here’s what I think.
A) Put the Russian name your late father wanted on his tombstone. Clearly that’s what he wanted, or he wouldn’t have bothered to mention in his Will.
B) In the newspaper announcement stick in both names, beginning with the name he traditionally used in this country (the Russian name can be put in parenthesis — yes, just like tis! Or you can write, “Joe Smith, born Josef ——- in Russia)
C) And stop worrying so much. His friends and relatives will come to the service.
Thank you for writing
Judy
