This story is undoubtedly one of the more unusual ways someone has chosen to honor a loved one. Rosanna Pansino, a well-known YouTuber and baker, recently shared on her podcast that she fulfilled her late father’s dying wish in a way that’s left many people both fascinated and unsettled.
According to Pansino, her father, who passed away from leukemia in 2019, requested that his ashes be used to grow a cannabis plant. Five years later, she harvested the plant, rolled it into a joint, and smoked it, broadcasting the moment for her audience.
On her podcast, she explained, “We are going to honor my dad by fulfilling his dying wish, and I’m going to smoke my dead dad.”
NEW: YouTuber smokes her dead dad's ashes to honor his dying wish.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 18, 2024
39-year-old cook Rosanna Pansino says her father's dying wish was for her to grow an MJ plant with his ashes and then smoke him.
So five years after he passed away from leukemia, Pansino lit a joint that had… pic.twitter.com/whYvSRFTBL
While her devotion to carrying out her father’s final wishes is admirable, the method has understandably sparked mixed reactions. It’s an unconventional choice that strays far from traditional tributes, like a memorial service or a commemorative donation. Instead, it raises questions about the boundaries of grief, personal expression, and, frankly, what constitutes honoring someone’s memory.
For some, this act might reflect the uniqueness of her father’s personality and his relationship with his daughter. But for others, it ventures into uncomfortable territory, not just because of the unusual request but also due to the decision to share it so publicly. Grief is deeply personal, and while unconventional approaches are not uncommon, this one has caught many off guard.
Ultimately, Pansino’s tribute may speak to the bond she shared with her father and her desire to honor him in a way that felt authentic to his wishes. Still, it’s a choice that will undoubtedly leave many questioning if some final wishes are better left unfulfilled.