I come not to bury but to praise

March 27, 2025 10:00 AM

User Cranberry has passed away after a long life. She was driven, I think, more by intellectual curiosity than any other factor and when I encouraged her to sign up for Metafilter, she was able to overcome her dislike of "potty mouth" language to sign up and become a regular user and answerer of AskMe. She was very proud to be a "$5 noob," and she greatly enjoyed reading the posts of her favorite users, especially gnfti and taz. She has gone on to join other family members in the afterlife and her obit is here.
posted by Lynsey to MetaFilter-Related at 10:00 AM (79 comments total)

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posted by skycrashesdown at 10:18 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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Thanks for posting. I didn't recognize the username but really appreciated the glimpse of her life given by the obituary.
posted by TwoStride at 10:18 AM on March 27 [7 favorites]

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posted by ashbury at 10:22 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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I am terrifically sorry for the loss of Cranberry, who was an amazing person both here and in real life as well.
posted by kimberussell at 10:34 AM on March 27 [4 favorites]

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94? A good innings, by any measure.
posted by lalochezia at 10:59 AM on March 27 [2 favorites]

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posted by warriorqueen at 11:09 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]

Well, gosh, she sounded amazing.

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posted by mykescipark at 11:20 AM on March 27 [2 favorites]

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posted by snsranch at 11:23 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by Wobbuffet at 11:54 AM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by Atreides at 12:28 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

As a fellow 5$ noob: such a well known handle. I'm sorry we lost her.
posted by jouke at 12:37 PM on March 27 [3 favorites]

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posted by loup (staff) at 12:45 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by away for regrooving at 12:46 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by Sparky Buttons at 1:04 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by niicholas at 1:16 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

Ach. That wedding picture looks glorious.
That lace veil!
posted by jouke at 1:18 PM on March 27 [2 favorites]

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posted by clavdivs at 1:27 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by Faint of Butt at 2:51 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by janell at 2:59 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by Kangaroo at 3:11 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

I will miss her.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:27 PM on March 27 [2 favorites]

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posted by needlegrrl at 3:44 PM on March 27 [1 favorite]

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posted by Lyn Never at 4:26 PM on March 27 [2 favorites]

RIP to a real one and a real old school MeFite.

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posted by jessamyn (retired) at 4:35 PM on March 27 [4 favorites]

I cannot leave just a dot.

"Non-science: I was happy in Eden. Something happened in another part of the garden, and suddenly it started raining and I was in Oregon.
posted to MetaFilter by Cranberry at 4:01 PM on April 18, 2013 "
posted by clavdivs at 6:44 PM on March 27 [14 favorites]

What a life. I don’t think we ever interacted but that was clearly my loss.

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posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:02 PM on March 27 [2 favorites]

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posted by Wordshore at 12:31 AM on March 28 [1 favorite]

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posted by Bella Donna at 3:38 AM on March 28 [1 favorite]

Oh man. That's one genuine Mefite. So sorry to hear this.

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posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 5:23 AM on March 28 [4 favorites]

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posted by eirias at 5:45 AM on March 28 [1 favorite]

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posted by Larry David Syndrome at 6:19 AM on March 28 [1 favorite]

Oh man, Cranberry! I've noticed her comments. Always seemed like a pleasant person and Mefi was better for having had her here.
posted by vacapinta at 6:35 AM on March 28 [4 favorites]

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posted by ellieBOA at 8:12 AM on March 28 [1 favorite]

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"She spoke Latin and French and last year at age 93 – she took up learning Swahili."
Poa SANA!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 5:36 PM on March 28 [4 favorites]

What a role model! Oh to be as intellectually curious and engaged into later life as Cranberry. Thank you for posting the obit and letting us learn a little more about her. And seconding that that is one gorgeous wedding photo.

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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:05 PM on March 28 [5 favorites]

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posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:11 PM on March 28 [1 favorite]

A real one. I love the diversity of Metafilter.

From her last Metatalk comment (post on “Tell us about your happy place”:

“In Nebraska, in the Platte river helping my dad clear the brush piling up behind the bridge to his island.
On the Oregon beach with my husband trying to beat the birds to un-pecked-on sand dollars.
In my chair with the NYT magazine puzzles and coffee watching the NBA or the Metropolitan Opera.
The earth has so many great places it would be hard to choose just one.”
posted by haptic_avenger at 6:44 AM on March 29 [15 favorites]

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posted by Mitheral at 7:14 PM on March 29 [1 favorite]

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posted by gtrwolf at 8:34 PM on March 29 [1 favorite]

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And thank you for the example of a well-lived life.
posted by minervous at 9:16 PM on March 29 [3 favorites]

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posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 5:25 AM on March 31 [1 favorite]

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
posted by jquinby at 8:56 AM on March 31 [3 favorites]

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posted by zamboni at 10:19 AM on March 31 [1 favorite]

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posted by jadepearl at 11:15 AM on March 31 [1 favorite]

I've been on MeFi a long while, don't post or comment all that much, and have been off and on in reading. But I remembered Cranberry's name as soon as I saw this obit post, from my very earliest days here. I didn't always agree with everything she posted but her perspective was always well-stated and interesting to read. Rest well and peace to her family.

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posted by sigmagalator at 11:54 AM on March 31 [3 favorites]

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posted by eckeric at 8:23 AM on April 1 [1 favorite]

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posted by nightrecordings at 6:21 PM on April 1 [1 favorite]

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posted by HearHere at 4:38 AM on April 2 [1 favorite]

RIP Cranberry, a long life well-lived.
posted by essexjan at 5:25 AM on April 2 [2 favorites]

Her lifelong commitment to learning new things should be a map for us all. I hope i practice that all the way into my 90's
posted by domino at 9:42 AM on April 2 [2 favorites]

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posted by pjsky at 10:38 AM on April 6 [1 favorite]