Graveyard Grudges: The Hilarious Headstone That Served Up Some Posthumous Petty Revenge
Do you believe in karma? How about poetic justice, the kind that’s so perfectly timed it feels scripted? Well, sometimes, the universe hands you the pen—and a chisel—to write the final chapter. If you’ve ever fantasized about one-upping a lifelong frenemy, wait until you hear how one family delivered the mother of all petty revenges… right on their mom’s gravestone.
Let’s just say, you can control your legacy in life, but after you’re gone? All bets are off—and sometimes, your children are funnier (and pettier) than you’d ever give them credit for.
Picture this: A family split by decades of favoritism, cutting words, and the kind of emotional gymnastics that would make even a soap opera writer take notes. The mother? Not exactly a candidate for “Parent of the Year.” Her daughters in particular were frequent targets, weathering storms of criticism and being pitted against each other in an endless game of “who’s mom’s least favorite today?”
The father, by all accounts, was a total gem—a kind, warm-hearted man who made everyone around him feel special. When he passed, the children pulled out all the stops: his headstone was a love letter in granite, listing every glowing superlative you could imagine. “Loving husband, devoted father, kind brother, constant friend”—the kind of memorial that would make even passing strangers wipe a tear.
Fast forward almost two decades. The mother passes, and it’s time to update the double plot’s headstone. Her daughters, who’d endured a lifetime of emotional warfare, were tasked with the edit. Now, here’s where the story takes a twist so delicious, it deserves its own Netflix miniseries.
The new inscription? Underneath their father’s litany of virtues, the stone simply reads:
“Also Mary.”
No adjectives. No flowery tributes. Not even a “beloved” or a “rest in peace.” Just three words, as cold and concise as a punctuation mark. “Here lies the mortal remains of Joe Bloggs, loving husband, devoted father, kind brother, constant friend. Also Mary.”
Talk about leaving a legacy.
Stone-Cold Closure: Why This Petty Revenge Resonates
It’s easy to dismiss this as a mean-spirited jab, but there’s something deeply cathartic—and, let’s be honest, hilarious—about how the daughters handled it. For years, they had to tiptoe through emotional landmines, constantly compared and criticized. In death, their mother lost the power to control the narrative. The daughters didn’t deface the grave, or write a lengthy screed. They just gave her exactly what she gave them: the bare minimum.
It’s a masterclass in restraint—and humor. The “also” does so much heavy lifting here. It’s not hateful, it’s not melodramatic. It’s almost… bureaucratic. A tiny, granite mic drop.
Why Do We Love a Good Petty Revenge?
Let’s face it: we all fantasize about perfect comebacks, those moments where we finally get to say (or do) what we wish we’d thought of in the heat of the moment. Petty revenge stories—especially those as creative as this one—scratch that itch. They’re a reminder that sometimes, you really do get the last word, even if it’s chiseled in stone.
And as this Reddit post (with nearly 3,000 upvotes) proves, the internet loves a good tale of poetic justice. The comment section? A goldmine of people sharing their own stories, debating the ethics, and—most importantly—applauding the daughters for their subtle, yet savage, sense of humor.
The Power of Narrative—Even After Death
Some might argue that what you put on a headstone is trivial compared to a life lived. But here’s the thing: funerals and memorials aren’t really for the dead. They’re for the living, for those left behind to process, grieve, and—sometimes—heal. For these daughters, the act of inscribing “Also Mary” wasn’t just revenge; it was closure. It was an honest reflection of their experience, shared with just enough wit to keep it from being overtly cruel.
Would You Do the Same?
So, what do you think—petty or perfect? Have you ever fantasized about one last word with a difficult relative? Or maybe you’ve seen a gravestone that made you do a double-take? Share your stories in the comments below. Because sometimes, the best revenge really is written in stone.
Have you ever witnessed a posthumous act of poetic justice? Or maybe you’ve got your own petty revenge story to share? Drop it in the comments—we’re dying to hear it!
Original Reddit Post: Family got revenge posthumously