Or, at least, an early-on notion.

In his book The Golden Age Is in Us: Journeys & Encounters 1987-1994 (published in 1996), Alexander Cockburn (who died Friday), starts with a short essay -- written in 1987 after he went to a funeral in Key West -- musing on possibilities for his own funeral (and on the pitfalls in Lefty send-offs):

Previously: "He Knew How To Live."