Sun City West, AZ cremations

What Do Dying People Say?

Before Sun City West, AZ cremations, as people near the end of their lives, if they’re alert and awake, the cognizance that they are dying sets in as a reality. One of the most interesting things that often occurs within 24-48 hours of the final stage of dying is something known as terminal lucidity.

This is an unexpected – and delightful – return of memory and mental sharpness in people who have psychiatric or neurological disorders such as dementia, schizophrenia, and strokes. They recognize people they may have not recognized in months or years. Their speech is clear and they are fully in the present. They’re often happy and reflective. This is very comforting for families to experience this with their loved ones.

But when the final stage of dying comes, there are often last words said before silence – whether because of immediate death or the two or three days of “death sleep” occurs – ensues.

Often, the words are brief because there is no energy for a full conversation. “Mama” is one of the most common last words that people speak. Some people’s last utterances are curse words. Others may mumble a word that holds significance to them – but it may mean nothing to their families – for their final words.

However, some people have a longer narrative as they speak their final words before dying or going into the death sleep. These often make absolutely no sense to their families, and often families will try to respond in a way that is comforting and reassuring, especially if their loved one is in distress.

For example, while suffering a second major heart attack within a week, a loved one may suddenly get agitated and fearful. While the family works with them to calm them down and to soothe them with the knowledge that they are surrounded by people who love them and care for them, they may say something like, “I guess they’re going to throw me out now.” The family will react with an immediate response that no one is to throw the loved out, that they are safe, and they are at home (or in the hospital).

Those phrases – the last words before there are no more – can be extremely puzzling, especially when they make no sense in the context of the present. Unfortunately, families never get a chance after that for their loved ones to clarify what they mean.

However, those phrases are related to something that was very important – and perhaps very traumatic – in the loved one’s life. Families may not know what it means while their loved one is dying, but with time they may understand, especially if their loved one had psychiatric or neurological disorders, the point in time that the loved one was referring to.

“I guess they’re going to throw me out now” could be related to the loved one pursuing a education and profession that they wanted to do all their lives, but because of an impairment, such as being hard of hearing or having vision impairments, they were dropped (thrown out, in their minds) from the educational program and their dreams of doing what they were passionate about got dashed into a million pieces.

Dying words are important. Listen. Think about them. Cherish them, if even if they sound harsh, because they mean something.

To learn more about what dying people say before Sun City West, AZ cremations, our compassionate and experienced team at Simply Cremation & Funeral Arrangements can assist you. You can come to our funeral home at 16952 W. Bell Rd., #303, Surprise, AZ, 85374, or you can contact us today at (623) 975-9393.

2 Comments on “What Do Dying People Say?

  1. My mother said to my father ” tell them I love them all” she had six sons and two daughters, and was the most caring home loving mother anyone could have wished for. Bless her Joyce née Coverdale laterally Teague

  2. Anna Ruff
    My husband looked at me said “Love you bye”.

    Larry was the love of my life.

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