Quote:
'when I'm gone', 'check out', 'shuffle off this mortal coil', 'buy the ranch', 'die', 'pass away', 'dead', 'killed', 'murdered', 'decomposing worm food', 'kicking the bucket', 'one of the rites of passage',
Interesting, all the different terms used for death, or dying. I know there are many more- but I would venture to guess people use what they are comfortable with.
I realized this quite well after the death of my brother in November... the fact of the matter was... he was killed, ... in a car accident.... by a drunk driver. I was at home when I found out, and to inform people I had to translate into a language other than my mother tongue- I tranlated it into 'died', - gestorben, rather than 'was killed' 'ums Leben gekommen'. I still have trouble with it. As for 'closure', I was unable to attend the funeral, and had to wait until we recently visited the US. No funeral to attend, just standing at his gravesite in a small cemetary on a windswept hill in the Ozarks. No time really to reflect, to weep,... my family was waiting in the car .... just a quick and tear choked whisper.... Goodbye Rob.
Funerals do serve their purpose for the living- we support each other in our loss, our grief, we remember the good things we have had in knowing the one who has left us. And for the living, what a wonderful gift- perhaps we are made more aware how transient and temporary our little sojourn on this big blue ball is, that we have a renewed desire to make the most of the time we have.
T.E.D.- my belated condolences on the loss of your grandfather.

I don't know you but....

anyway
Sunsilver-much strength and my thoughts go out to you with your mom.
(sorry for waxing morose.... not much to say on my own funeral- a celebration of Life, is what I would want people to have).
On a lighter note.... passing away, as mentioned several times above, does seem to apply to those who die naturally, or in their sleep, or rather aptly, for all Quarterbacks and Rugby players.
