Difference between died and passed

Dear Editor, I do not contradict Andrew O'Donnell's "Notebook" (IC 01/01/2015), but I do not like, in his first paragraph, that he said that Brian Farrell had "passed", when he meant ‘died’. That word is often used nowadays, with the implication that nobody ever dies, but only passes from one life to another. Of course, that is true; but I believe that "passed" was invented by those who don't believe it. In order to keep resurrection in everybody's mind, I would love it if everybody continued to say "die" and "died".

Yours etc.,

Colm Culleton,

Bagenalstown,

Co. Carlow.