“We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” Chuck Palahniuk, author of “Fight Club” and “Lullaby”

Writing and talking about death is uncomfortable to some people. This month has been bitterly hard for many people in the region as several well-known and well-loved people have died. We've printed 35 obituaries this month and it has been an honor to help families let our readers know about their loved ones and what they've accomplished in their lives. Some of the departed lived a long life and some left this world way too soon. I say it is an honor to publish the obituaries, but it also takes a personal toll on me and our staff. We knew these people, too, and we mourn their deaths right along with their families, their friends and our readers.

But life does go on and we will all experience death and the deaths of our loved ones. Sometimes it takes years to get over someone's death, but the pleasant memories of them help heal the wounds of missing them.

I am hoping we can all catch a break and not have as many of our relatives, friends and neighbors appear on our obituary pages as we've had this month.

So I end here with what I hope is a positive quote about death.

“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Thomas Campbell, Scottish poet