Why Do We Use Euphemisms For Death in Obituaries and Conversation?

Why Do We Use Euphemisms for Death in Obituaries and Conversation?

Crossing over; passed; passed away; passed over; gone to heaven; left us; lost his(her) life; resting in peace;  asleep in Jesus;  bit the dust; called home;  deceased; departed; expired; gathered to (his) her people;  gone to meet his (her) maker - reward;  joined the last roundup; in repose;  is resting six feet under; succumbed;  turned up his (her) toes;  yielded up the ghost:

The use of euphemisms is supposed to ease our pain. But, just for the absurd fun of it, let’s examine a few – at face value.

“lost his (her) life;”          can someone find it for him (her)?  We have finders.

 “Crossed over”;  crossed over what? A creek? A river? A lake? A cloud?  Can’t they just cross back? 

 “left us;”  doesn’t someone in the house do that at last once a day? Does that imply that the leaver

      will return? Hmm.

“resting in peace;”   How do we know that someone finds peace after dying? Have we talked to   

       someone to know?  Hmm some more.

“Called home;”    by someone via the telephone, cell phone, or land line? Or by facebook, skype, or

      email?  Did someone answer his (her) call, or did the person just hang up?  Interesting. 

“expired;”   Well, things generally get thrown out after they expire. Just saying.

“Passed over;”   That promotion just did not come through, I guess?  Is she (he) pouting?

““joined the last roundup;”    Did she (he) sell the herd? Or did he(she) keep a few cows around?

 “Succumbed;”     temptation is much too great?

Well, enough word play. Fancy word games, in my opinion, do nothing but confuse those who want to know  where is their mom-dad-brother-grandpa-grandma, only to look inside the box, and, after hearing  the explanation, ask, “Then, why is (he) she stuck in that box looking like he (she) is dead?”     What do we say then?

I believe in truth in advertising; saying what I mean. Wife is dead. She will not return to me. As she was dying, she told us that she would meet her parents and beloved grandmother four days later. She was adamant about the date. I believe she did just that – not by passing away, or resting in peace, or by being called home, but by dying.