True Stories From the Obit Files - People You Never Knew, But Won’t Forget

You don’t know him yet.
But today… you will.

Juan Omar Chaidez was 37 when he passed away in Princeton, Texas. He loved two-stepping, served as a firefighter paramedic, and once ran toward horrific danger when everyone else was running away.

🎧 He was often the first on the dance floor — and the kind of person who didn’t wait to be asked.

This is the kind of life most people would walk past.
Until someone stops… and tells the st...

You may not know Sharyl Jeannine Anderson yet, but after hearing her life story today, you'll understand why her memories live on. At 85, Sharyl passed away in Lutz, Florida, leaving behind not just a tray of warm cookies and a packed calendar but the rich tapestry of a true life story. Known for her sweet treats and spirited cheers during every halftime show, she encapsulated what it means to live life fully and fiercely. Her ...

In this episode of our documentary podcast, we share the poignant life story of Geoffrey Keane, a gifted musician whose talent often went unnoticed. At 70, Geoffrey passed away in Connecticut, leaving behind memories of quiet companionship with his cello, a grill, and a cherished stray cat. This life stories podcast explores how Geoffrey lived a life filled with extraordinary moments, despite the solitude. He was an unsung hero who...

George Walker was the kind of man you’d walk past without noticing — quiet, steady, always fixing what was broken. This life stories podcast explores behind the silence of George's life, revealing a lifetime of service to his family, neighbors, and the countless people lucky enough to know him. From frozen pipes to flickering porch lights, George's impact is felt through the steady hands and lit rooms he left behind. This e...

You probably walked past someone like Isaiah Allen this week. A wrestling champion turned HVAC tech who had a pet lizard named Diddy and ran a business called "Sock It to Me Transport." But what made Isaiah extraordinary wasn't his takedown records or his endurance challenges — it was his rare gift for making people feel completely understood.

From printing maps for confused coworkers to staying on the phone for hours ...

Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling.

September 1951, East Lansing, Michigan. A twelve-year-old boy sees another kid lost at the school bus stop and walks over to help. "Hey, the bus stops right here. I'll wait with you."

That moment of kindness became the foundation for how Thomas John Amiss would treat people for the next 73 years.

Tom looked like any other well-dressed car salesman walking do...

You probably walked past someone like Arthur today — a quiet postal worker in Louisville, sorting mail with steady hands and a button-down shirt. Just another face in the morning routine, right?

But what if that same person carried music inside him that no one else would ever hear? What if he had this one habit that made everyone around him feel different — more seen, more valued, more human?

This is the story of Art Hopkins, who spe...

Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling.

You probably walked past someone like Larry Metherd today — a friendly neighbor watering his garden, maybe sharing a quick story about his beloved Siberian Husky. Just another retiree, right?

But those gentle hands had once helped desperate war refugees climb aboard ships in foreign ports. That calm voice had once shouted "Geronimo!" while jumping...

Dive into the remarkable life story of Laurice Arab, a 90-year-old woman whose journey exemplifies the power of connection and love. In this episode of our life stories podcast, we unwrap the layers of Laurice’s life, from her humble beginnings in the Lebanese village of Diman in 1935 to becoming a matriarch whose meals were an act of love, binding her family across three countries. After experiencing devastating losses early on, L...

You might have walked past Mel on a Boston street and never looked twice. Just another guy in a button-down shirt heading to work. But behind his front door was one of New England's most significant private art collections — and a man who spent forty years seeing potential in people before they saw it themselves.

From buying unknown artists' work for twenty dollars to making homeless strangers laugh over coffee at Dunkin Don...

Picture this: A woman is dying, and her family knows exactly what will comfort her. Not music. Not prayers. The voice of Cleveland baseball calling one last game.

Meet Rose Montali — a 67-year-old grandmother from Cleveland whose kitchen was a sanctuary and whose love made everyone feel extraordinary. For 60 years, she was the mom who showed up at every swim meet, the neighbor who remembered birthdays, and the grandmother who convin...

In this episode, we explore the life of Stanley Crawford, an extraordinary ordinary person who transformed Elizabethtown, Kentucky through fifty years of faithful walking. Known as "Stan the Man," he wasn't just a familiar face—he was the heartbeat of his community. This is the story of how one man's simple presence created lasting change, and why people like Stan represent the forgotten heroes walking past us every day.

Journey wit...

At 27, Teddy Golubowski was excelling as Class Leader at the Ocean County Police Academy when he received devastating news. Despite debilitating pain, he still planned to drive to the Academy to be properly dismissed — because that's what you do when you've made a commitment.

This is the story of a young man who spent his life serving others: from a 5-year-old Toms River Raider to a college football player, from public works employe...

Most people retire and slow down. At 54, Maynard Caudill started a business that's still thriving 32 years later. From gospel singer to Air Force veteran to decorated state trooper to business owner — this is the story of a man who understood that service comes in many forms, and that some of the most extraordinary lives never make the front page.

Real people. Real lives. Remembered.

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