If an obituary says "passed away" does that typically mean suicide?

[Anonymous]

No. Lots of obituaries do not include cause of death and lots of people say "passed away" instead of "died". sometimes people do not yet know the cause of death, and sometimes they simply prefer not to focus on it.

FWIW, my 98yo grandmother's obit said "passed away" and didn't list a cause of death. she was 98, there were a great many contributing factors, none of which were suicide. she was 98.

[Anonymous]

Passed away = died.

[Anonymous]

The term is actually a class phenomenon, not a regional one. It indicates the class of the person saying it.

“He died” - UMC or higher
“He passed away” - middle class/working class
“He was called to Jesus” or “He became an angel” - lower working class, poor, or honey boo boo relative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"passed away suddenly at home" means suicide.

No, it doesn't. Suicides don't always happen at home and passed away suddenly at home could also mean that the person died from something like a heart attack or brain aneurysm.

A friend "passed away suddenly at home" from an aneurysm. Every now and then an obituary says something like "lost her long battle with cancer". If no cause of death is specified, it's best not to jump to conclusions. It will only cause more pain to the family if they have to squash rumors.

[Anonymous]

Passed away is a euphemism for dying, plain and simple.

Why are you looking for drama, OP? Bored on a Sunday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Passed away" is a common, kinder way to say "died".

"Passed away suddenly" or "passed away unexpectedly" is code for suicide. So we were informed by the catholic part of the family and the people at the newspaper when we were placing the announcement for my mum who died suddenly and unexpectedly of an aneurism.

We had wanted to convey that it was a shock, so please don't bother us/ask... but apparently to do so would have hinted at suicide. So, many people assumed she had been sick or that it was expected and it was painful to have to repeat that it was a shock, and this is how it happened, etc. But my dad didn't want to state the exact cause because it was too personal. You can't win.

No, it's not, and the people who told you so are stupid beyond words.

[Anonymous]

No, and btw, I had a healthy 23yo friend die of an unknown (unknown beforehand) heart condition.

Super tall skinny athlete, playing a rec team sport with friends, had a heart attack on the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Passed away = died.

+100

It's in every elderly obituary. He is a softer way of saying he 'died'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"passed away suddenly at home" means suicide.

No, it doesn't. Suicides don't always happen at home and passed away suddenly at home could also mean that the person died from something like a heart attack or brain aneurysm.

A friend "passed away suddenly at home" from an aneurysm. Every now and then an obituary says something like "lost her long battle with cancer". If no cause of death is specified, it's best not to jump to conclusions. It will only cause more pain to the family if they have to squash rumors.

We did not list the reason my parent died in their obit. (a terminal illness). The obit was about celebrating their life. People are nosy and want the juicy details. Most people keep health matters to themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, passed away sounds so much nicer than "died."

+100

and the idiot that is classifying the term by social class. wtf?!?!! My multi-millionaire uncle 'passed away' recently.

[Anonymous]

This is one of the dumbest posts.

[Anonymous]

Passed away = died

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The term is actually a class phenomenon, not a regional one. It indicates the class of the person saying it.

“He died” - UMC or higher
“He passed away” - middle class/working class
“He was called to Jesus” or “He became an angel” - lower working class, poor, or honey boo boo relative

No...people with less money used died in paid news obituaries because it took less space. That's why it's more common to see died in a paid newspaper obituary to this day than a funersl home handout.

[Anonymous]

These days, I tend to assume drug overdose in anyone under 40. At least 50% of the time a Google search will turn up confirmation, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The term is actually a class phenomenon, not a regional one. It indicates the class of the person saying it.

“He died” - UMC or higher
“He passed away” - middle class/working class
“He was called to Jesus” or “He became an angel” - lower working class, poor, or honey boo boo relative

No...people with less money used died in paid news obituaries because it took less space. That's why it's more common to see died in a paid newspaper obituary to this day than a funersl home handout.

A typical obituary w/ photo in the Washington Post costs $1,500.00, btw.