I wouldn't say that's "typical" but it's certainly not uncommon, either.

Facebook is becoming more and more common as a way of spreading such news and it's not always people in their 20's and 30's. I know one woman (50'ish) who announced the sudden death of her husband on facebook not too long after he died. I found out because we had been high school friends and somehow we re-connected on Facebook. I had never, ever met her husband, of course, and it just plain felt weird seeing it announced there, as if I was intruding on something that wasn't mine to enter. But it seems to be more common as time goes on.

I noticed that with a couple deaths in my church over the past year. Two or three month delays before they had a public memorial. The deaths were, of course, announced both in church and through various church channels so we all knew. I'm not clear on what were the reasons since I didn't know the families well. I suppose that with a memorial, since the remains aren't involved, there's more flexibility on the timing but you'd still think it would be fairly close to the death date even if not as close as a funeral.

Mendalla

Thanks, it's not something I've really seen before and this year I've heard of two.

I just pointed out the ages as it's more of a surprise than someone in their 80s suddently dying from a heart attack or something sudden like that.

I  have seen many of these this year. Maybe it is a new trend. Reading the obituaries is an interesting thing to do every day. I have noticed two other things. The write up said " At Joe's request there will be no service"

or At Joe's request the family will gather at such and such cemetary for the burial"

or At Joe's request there will be no service but family and friends are asked to gather at Pete's Bar and GRill to remember him .

In this area it seems that the most common way for people to learn of deaths through the newspaper obituary (also accessible online).  People of my generation turn to the obits first when they open their morning paper.

In many families, aamong close friends, or in smaller congregations people try to get the news out before it appears in the paper.  People set up phone-trees.  (ie someone phones me, I tell them I will call my sisters, and cousin Fred.  Fred will then call is sister and brother.)  One Saturday I remember walking the neighbourhood with a church member stopping at other member's houses and letting them know that a prominent church member had died unexpectantly - it was theraputic for me because I had been close to this person.  Sometimes it is announced in church (a teenage member drowned on Saturday night.)

I can see the possibility of facebook supplementing or replacing newspaper obits for the younger generation. 

Generally in my circle of family, neighbours, friends, church we have funerals - usually 3 to 5 days after the death.  If a memorial service is chosen instead it is within that time frame.  (unless there are extenuating circumstances - like the body not found (drowning), or a close family member not being ablee to get home until months later)

Seeler, my mom has read the obits for a long time, although it's not the first section she goes to!

The real issue with facebook is the timeframe.  Say there's a person who dies, with two kids, Ann and Bob.  Ann lives in a different city, Bob lives in the same city as the person who dies.  Ann has a kid, Amy, Bob has a kid Billy.  Bob tells Billy that his grandparent died, then calls Ann.  While Bob is still on the phone with Ann (so Amy doesn't know yet), Billy posts on facebook which is how Amy finds out.  Bad, huh?

Sometimes it's worse than facebook, it can also be twitter while a relaitve is actually at the hospital right after the person dies.

CH, thanks for mentioning the trend you've seen.

I wonder if the media will follow.  They currently wait a while so family can be notified first.  If people just post stuff on social media, will traditional media follow suit?