Sir, – I notice an increase in the use of euphemisms for death and dying. Death is no longer spoken about openly and honestly perhaps explaining why we have adopted new words for the process. Instead of saying “died”, increasingly “passed” is used. Death is the one certainty in life; euphemisms avoid the reality; they do not help us to face death, which is crucial to grieve well.
Ireland has always had powerful traditions associated with death, burial, and bereavement, many of which are part of many Irish funerals today. It is important to retain these, and to continue to have strength to discuss death, dying and bereavement.
By doing so, we will better face death and avoid sanitising and stage-managing it.
Abandoning words like “passed” and returning to words like “death” and “dying” would be a good start. – Yours, etc,
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ELIZABETH TWOMEY DUGGAN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
