Why Are Obituaries Always Positive?

One thing that I've never been able to figure out is why obituaries are always so poisitive to the point that anything negative is always missing.

Here is a recent example. The late sportscaster Paul Eels was a man with a pronounced drinking problem and some convictions for driving under the influence. His latest bout with drinking and driving cost him his license.

However, this obituary neglected to mention Eels's alcoholism, his loss of a drivers license over a year ago, or whether or not drinking alcoholic beverages played any role in his demise.

Hopefully, the media will eventually get around to reporting on Eels's alcoholic life, but since he was a prominent member of the news media, don't bet your life on it.