I`m not going to pass away

I want the Sanctus from Verdis requiem at my funeral as I go through the curtain, and the March of the Mods to carry me into the crem ( I wasn't allowed it at my wedding. They wouldn't let me have the triumphal march from Aida either! My father though that the vicar would ban the dancing girls and the elephants might get out of hand)

"Lost" is so ambiguous and "Passed" is American. I too am going to die, afterwards I shall be dead.
I've always liked churchyards and cemeteries and have written down what I want done (burial) and what sort of gravestone (natural stone) I've told my family I'll come back and haunt them if they have me cremated or put a shiny stone with gold letters over me.
It's a pity nobody knows any hymns now as there are many I love and would like sung at my funeral.

Actually I rather like "Fell Asleep" on a tomb stone. There's something rather peaceful about it.

Also reminds me of one of my favourite poems - can't remember the author.

Mary Anne has gone to rest,
Safe at last in Abraham's breast.
Which may be nuts for Mary Anne,
But is certainly tough on Abraham!

Nuts? Nice?

Woody Allen...'I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens.'

I'm not scared of dying, thanks to a firm faith in God. I don't know how people can live without the comfort and certainty of religion.

watermeadow: If you don't have the certainty of religion, you live with what you have. The certainty that you are born, you live and you die.

I assume that when I die, the light will go out. I don't find that discomforting. I do find it realistic but, as with most things in the future, who knows? I don't think there is an expert I would trust to tell me what happens after I die.

Nuts roses as far as I remember it's American.

Cunco I did die once and was resuscitated. There was nothing. I find that very comforting.

Grandma2213: Thank you for sharing your experience. I felt the same when, late in life, I had my first general anaesthetic. Nothing is not so bad, especially when compared with what some would have me believe lies in store for me. At least we won't have to worry about how our loved ones can pay the 'Passing' Tax.

Water meadow, I am one of those people who live happily in the knowledge that I have thrown off the shackles of superstition. Religion does not equate with certainty, it is belief which is acceptance that something is true without proof.

Billy, in one of his nice new sashes
Fell in the fire and was burned to ashes.
Now, although the room grows chilly,
I haven't the heart to poke poor Billy.

Watermeadow, I sometimes envy the certainties of those you have faith, but one either believes it or one doesn't, you can't make yourself believe.

'Sorry for your loss' is the standard phrase used at the Wake or Removal, for a Catholic funeral, here in rural Ireland.

As a non religious person, what I find interesting is that the majority of funerals (mass followed by burial) are held 3 days after the death has occurred. No fannying about.

I don't ageee with some aspects of the Catholic faith (family plannng!) but I think they have a great way of de-mystifying death although I'm still getting used to seeing an open casket in someone's house at the wake.

There used to be a saying in Yorkshire that someone who had died had 'shook a seven'. Anyone else heard that?

That's a new one on me but I love it lol.

Pass away, pass over, decease, die .... not for me. I've told my family it's my intention to live forever. So far, so good!

Fitzy, my sentiments exactly. Love your humour.

When my aunt died some years ago, my beloved grandmother (her sister) was stopped in the graveyard just after the burial for some words of condolence. The woman stated 'I'm so sorry to hear of your loss'. To which my Nan stated ''I haven't lost her, she's over there' pointing to the grave. When my time is up, I'm not going to pass, I'm going to die.....