RENO, Nev. – An obituary that appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal on Tuesday has been pulled from the newspaper’s Web site after creating a great deal of controversy. Memorializing Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick, the obituary paints a picture of painful spite by Johnson-Reddick’s children according to TV station KOLO.
Patrick Reddick and his siblings said that they endured years of physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse.
The obituary reads in part: “On behalf of her children whom she so abrasively exposed to her evil and violent life, we celebrate her passing from this earth and hope she lives in the after-life reliving each gesture of violence, cruelty, and shame she delivered on her children.” Gawker has full-text of the obituary at this link.
The Reddick’s are standing by their statements. Patrick Reddick said they were all estranged from her for 35-40 years and shuffled in and out of various foster homes.
The newspaper removed the obituary and said they have to review the circumstances surrounding its placement.