I`m not going to pass away

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.....

Fitzy, my sentiments exactly. Love your humour.

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!

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

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

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Nuts? Nice?

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!

"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.

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)

What about when people refer to "losing" someone. We always say "that's careless", although not within earshot of the bereaved of course.

I think I must be the only GNer who likes 'passed'! Somehow for me it leaves open the possibility that they have gone to another place, which may be better, and I like that idea, having no proof that it's not true..

I like 'pop your clogs ' too.

I love euphemisms. It's not that, as a family, we can't face up to death but euphemisms soften the edges and if that helps with the grieving process or memories of the deceased then so be it.

When I lost my son I felt a genuine sense of loss. I was never going to get him back.

My dad passed away in the 1990s.

My mam has prepared for when she pops her clogs by buying a prepaid funeral and has even stipulated which hymns and music she wants. I don't think she trusts me. Perhaps it's because I suggested Fight the Good Fight (which she had at her wedding)and Roy Orbison singing It's Over as she slips through the curtains.

We live very close to a graveyard and often walked through it when the children were little - obviously questions were asked. One day I explained that when people die their bodies are buried in the graveyard. Oh, said small son, where are their heads then?