Sir, – I couldn't agree more with Bryan L O'Flaherty (January 11th). When my time comes I will die, and after that I will be dead. If anybody says I have merely "passed away", or worse "passed on", I will come back and haunt them. – Yours, etc,
JOHN DOYLE,
Enniskeane,
Co Cork.
Sir, – I write in support of Bryan L O’Flaherty. May I add that it is acceptable to say that someone has been buried, and it is not necessary to use the modern mock genteelism “has been laid to rest”. Indeed my surname confirms this. – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Oh, how I share Bryan L O’Flaherty’s dislike of the term “passed away”. When life ceases, people “die”. They do not “pass” – either on or away or even over.
Is it because the word “pass” ends with a soft sibilant whisper that tails off gently, whereas “dead” does not have the same resonance and shoots out of the mouth with a sort of stubby clatter? “Pass” hangs about in the air after it has been uttered. “Dead” leaves no ripples. – Yours, etc,
Dr NORA P DONNELLY,
Clarina,
Co Limerick.
Sir, –To paraphrase the advert, “When you’re gone, you’re gone”. – Yours, etc,
ITA McCORMACK,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
A chara, – About 40 years ago I read a report in a newspaper about a road traffic accident, where the pedestrian who had been hit by a car was found to be “in a lifeless condition”.
I am not sure that this was any better than having “passed away”. – Is mise,
SEAN O’KIERSEY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.