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 In our culture, we are challenged by the use of the word, “died.” I try to avoid it, and it seems like the culturally appropriate thing to do.
Within the monument industry, we use the term “die” to refer to the upright monument that normally sits on the sub base or base of a monument. Monument builders and memorialists commonly refer to the “die” as a “tablet” around clients. We seek to avoid speaking directly on the subject as if, by chance, it will be less painful for those grieving their loss of a loved one. We know our clients are suffering, so we seek to avoid touching the pain that lies on or close to the surface after the death of a family member.
There are many euphemisms for “die,” but they all refer to the same thing, the end of physical life. When used as a verb, we commonly say “passed away.” Roget’s New Millennium Thesaurus, First Edition has numerous synonyms for die such as “taken, bump off, buy it, cash in, chalk out, check out, conk, cool, croak, dance, decease, demise, depart, drop, drop dead, drop off, drown, eat it, expire, finish, go west, hang, kick off, one-way ticket, perish, pop off, relinquish life, snuff, sprout wings, succumb, [and] suffocate.” Other synonyms include: “bite the dust, buy the farm, cash in one's chips, cease living, croak, expire, kick off, kick the bucket, meet one's maker, pass on, push up daisies, and succumb.” “Buy it, buy the ranch, cash in one's chips, [and] cease living.”
Some of those expressions would be considered juvenile, some humorous, while others are descriptive, and perhaps accurate, but socially insensitive and impolite. No synonym can ease the pain of losing a loved one, but maybe it will ease the sting of death. And, if it does, then a euphemism is fine by me. After all, I want to always demonstrate as much compassion for my fellow men and women as my capacity will allow. After all, it is the right thing to do.
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