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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This

[Anonymous]

No, it means their personal medical information is none of your business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I have metastatic cancer. I will die before I am forty. Thanks for assuming I am a drug addict.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I've also seen this term used when there's been an OD.

This. Passed away suddenly at home has always been a signal of a non health related death

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I've also seen this term used when there's been an OD.

This. Passed away suddenly at home has always been a signal of a non health related death

Wrong

[Anonymous]

I hate “passed” and “passed away” just say does. They haven’t passed anyone unless they are on the highway. They haven’t gone away they are dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it means "died."

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I've also seen this term used when there's been an OD.

This. Passed away suddenly at home has always been a signal of a non health related death

Like the many other posters on this thread going back three years, I disagree. Never infer the cause of death from "passed away suddenly" or even just passed away. Plenty of people die unexpectedly. Heart condition, stroke, even undiagnosed tumors. They effectively dropped dead.

[Anonymous]

No. It means nothing of the sort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it means their personal medical information is none of your business.

+1

[Anonymous]

It hurts/feel so weird to say 'died' that I still say 'passed away' for loved ones.

[Anonymous]

No. It just sounds gentler than died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It hurts/feel so weird to say 'died' that I still say 'passed away' for loved ones.

Me too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I have metastatic cancer. I will die before I am forty. Thanks for assuming I am a drug addict.

I'm with the PP on this. Under 30 -- 80% chance it was drugs.

Between 30 - 40 and no kids - drugs AND you did something stupid like skydiving and still died.

Between 30 - 40 with kids - half drugs, 30% something stupid, and 20% - terminal diagnosis or like a pregnancy complication.

[Anonymous]

I hate the phrase "passed away." I hope when I die, people say I died. Not that I passed away, or have returned to Jesus, or that I'm singing with the angels. No euphemisms foe me. Dead, expired, pushing up the daisies.