Daughter's 4-Sentence Obit for Mom Who 'Burnt Bridges' Goes Viral. She Says It's 'No Joke' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

On left, Christina Novak and on right, her mom Florence Harrelson.Photo:Christina Mills Novak

Christina Mills Novak

No one was more surprised than Christina Novak when the short online obituary she placed in theKennebec Journalabout her mom’s death went viral.

“Let’s be clear. It’s a PSA and it’s no joke. It was written with sarcasm and relief, but it’s real,” Novak, 47, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “It was done in four sentences because I refused to spend another dollar on that woman.”

“Florence did not want an obituary or anyone including family to know she died,” the obituary continues. “That’s because even in death, she wanted those she terrorized to still be living in fear looking over their shoulders.  So, this isn’t so much an obituary but more of a public service announcement.”

Harrelson’s mother, who had five sons and twin daughters, died in 2015 when she was 80. She was remembered as “a good cook" who “was known for her ability to make delicious blueberry muffins without measuring any ingredients.”

Novak says the obituary for her uncle, who lived “about five minutes from me” was “very nice.” She also alleges that after her uncle’s death, her mom raided his home on at least two occasions.

Florence “Flo” Harrelson.Christina Mills Novak/tiktok

Christina Mills Novak/tiktok

According to Novak, her mother, a former Maine State Prison corrections officer, died months before anyone in the family noticed.

Novak, who hadn’t spoken to her mom in a decade, says she only discovered what had happened after a discussion with a friend about how things were “too quiet lately.” She Googled her mother’s name and adeath notice from a crematoriumpopped up.

“I messaged my aunt, her identical twin sister, and I’m like, ‘Did Mom die?’ And she’s like, ‘I don’t know,” ’ Novak says. “After some digging, I discovered it was her.”

Christina Novak.Christina Mills Novak

Growing up, Novak says her mom “took sport in ruining every birthday and Christmas” and played cruel pranks on her when she was just little — like allegedly taking her to the top of a bridge and having her and her partner grab Novak’s legs and arms and act like they were going to throw her into the water below.

“I still can’t drive over a bridge without getting an anxiety attack,” says Novak.

Before she turned in her four sentences, Novak says she ran it past her aunt to get her approval. She did not hear back for more than 24 hours. And when she did, she says her aunt only took note of a typo.

“She pointed out, ‘It’s destruction, not distraction,’ “ Novak says.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Some people are like, ‘Why even say anything? She’s dead,’ " Novak says, but, as she points out, sometimes it’s only when a person is no longer alive that “someone finally has got the power to say something.”

Besides, she says, “I think my Uncle Bill would have gotten a chuckle out of it.”

source: people.com