One notable example is the story of Eleanor “Ellie” Slavin, a 90-year-old stamp collector whose 2023 passing revealed a life spent gathering not just stamps, but community memories. Her great-niece Maria Lopez shared, “To see her life honored in print reminded us all how one person’s quiet dedication shaped so many—across decades.” Another tribute highlighted Ohio County’s longtime β-library volunteer, Frank “Flick” Thompson, remembered by neighbors as “the quiet glue” who maintained quiet reading nooks where generations read aloud. His obituary became a town-wide reflection: “He didn’t seek attention, but his presence lingered,” observed longtime resident Helen Marlow.

More Than Words: Community Healing Through Remembrance The retrieval and sharing of Quad Cities obituaries fulfill a profound emotional function. In an age where many feel isolated, seeing others grieve and celebrate openly fosters connection. A 2024 survey conducted by Vitals Health found that 68% of Quad Cities residents who read obituaries online or in print reported feeling uplifted during late-life losses, citing the sense that “someone remembered them.” Aluminum Ocean Foundation outreach coordinator Tom Reed explains, “These stories validate grief by showing lived lives mattered.

They turn silence into shared remembrance.”

Obituaries in the Quad Cities are evolving into more than formal notices—they are living documents of community identity, carrying forward legacies once known only to family. Through Qctimes’ careful curation, these brief narratives bridge generations, strengthen bonds, and remind neighbors that in death, as in life, we remain part of a story. As Linda Cross puts it, “Obituaries are the quietest proof that no one truly disappears—we live on through what they left behind.”