With the writers’ strike still in effect, Andover native Jay Leno turned close to home for fodder one night this week.

On Monday night’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the host whipped out an obituary that appeared in The Sun during a weekly segment called “Headlines.” The segment consists of viewer-submitted newspaper clippings, advertisements, packaging and oddities that end up in print. Leno then takes some of the most comical, holds them up for the audience, and puts his own humorous and often sarcastic spin on them.

After a few engagement announcements with suggestive surname pairings and an ad for a goat for sale as a companion or for meat, Leno softened his voice and proceeded with the next clipping.

Saving the best for last, the late-night talk show host took out the Sun obituary of Lowell resident Athanasia “Ethel” Eliopoulous, who died Oct. 5, 2007. The obituary was the standard short biography outlining her education, employment, leisure activities and survivors.
The kicker, Leno explained was the last line, where this 94-year-old world traveler made her final joke. It read: “With her passing, Eliopoulous’ final wish was ultimately granted when she did not have to see Hillary Clinton become president.”

There were a few sneers from the audience, but afterwards the crowd erupted into laughter and applause. Leno chuckled as well and slammed his fist down onto his desk in reaction.
Eliopoulous’ sister-in-law, Ann Holis, was told this week about Leno’s on-air reading of the obituary.

“She was something else,” Hollis said of Eliopoulous. “She always made everyone laugh. She had a lot of friends who loved being in her company.”
Hollis thinks her deceased sister-in-law would have been “thrilled to pieces” to know she made national television. As far as another Clinton making it back into the Oval Office, she believes Eliopoulous would be incensed.

“If she does, Ethel will turn over in her grave five times,” Hollis said.

Gives a whole new meaning to getting the last word.
But it wasn’t the first time The Sun made Leno’s “Headlines.”

Nearly two decades ago, Leno’s segment featured a story about local officials being unable to pinpoint the source of a foul odor in a neighborhood next to a waste-treatment plant.

“Noxious odors a mystery at waste plant,” that headline read.

To watch Leno's headlines Click HERE!