remaining family members ?

[Ju]

After one members passed away in the family, what do we call the remaining family members ?

Ju

 

[BobK]

'Bereaved', which is an adjective. 'The bereaved' can sometimes be used as a noun. I think in legal contexts the word 'relict' is sometimes used - but I've never heard or seen it, except in matters of wills ('testaments' - written records of what people want to be done with their possessions when they die)

b

 

[SoothingDave]

An obituary will say that "he is survived by..." and then list the wives and children, etc.

 

[tedtmc]

An obituary will say that "he is survived by..." and then list the wives and children, etc.

Also, xxxx passed away leaving behind xxxx, xxxx, ...

I though 'the bereaved' is not confined to family members but also friends and relatives.

not a teacher

 

[Raymott]

Also, xxxx passed away leaving behind xxxx, xxxx, ...

I though 'the bereaved' is not confined to family members but also friends and relatives.

not a teacher

And the family are not always bereaved, but it's conventional and polite to assume they are.

 

[BobK]

And the family are not always bereaved, but it's conventional and polite to assume they are.

:?: I didn't think it was just a fancy word for 'upset'. Recently, though, I've noticed people using it that way. :-(

Online Etymology Dictionary doesn't require family ties - though the words 'loved one' in the definition of the OE root might encourage its use in that sense.

I think it was originally applied to families; then it was applied figuratively to other contacst who reacted as though they had had a family member die - which devalued the word and invited a new meaning in ('upset') because Nature Abhors a Vacuum

b

 

[birdeen's call]

:?: I didn't think it was just a fancy word for 'upset'. Recently, though, I've noticed people using it that way. :-(

Online Etymology Dictionary doesn't require family ties - though the words 'loved one' in the definition of the OE root might encourage its use in that sense.

I think it was originally applied to families; then it was applied figuratively to other contacst who reacted as though they had had a family member die - which devalued the word and invited a new meaning in ('upset') because Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Would you say then that the family of a deceased person must be bereaved by definition? The meaning of the word is deprived. I think we can only be deprived of good or necessary things like love or food. We wouldn't call a person who has been successfully treated for cancer "deprived of cancer". Would you say that a particularly hated family member who dies still leaves the rest bereaved? Must they consider themselves bereaved?

 

[BobK]

I would think that was it - though my 'preferred usage' doesn't seem to be widely shared. ;-) Except in John Donne's sense ('No man is an island...' etc) I wouldn't be bereaved by the death of any Tom Dick or Harry. Using your word 'deprived', their life has to be something that's of value to me in a personal way..

b

 

[emsr2d2]

If I saw someone who had recently lost a close family member out and about having fun, just a few days after the death, I would be hard pushed to describe them as bereaved. In fact, I would be inclined to use the sarcastic method of making quotation marks with my hands while saying to someone "Look, isn't that Jane? Hah! So much for being (begin finger gesture) "bereaved"!"

 

[BobK]

If I saw someone who had recently lost a close family member out and about having fun, just a few days after the death, I would be hard pushed to describe them as bereaved. In fact, I would be inclined to use the sarcastic method of making quotation marks with my hands while saying to someone "Look, isn't that Jane? Hah! So much for being (begin finger gesture) "bereaved"!"

Exactly - I think we're in violent agreement ;-) She's not behaving as family members should in such circumstances, and the word 'bereaved' underlines that.

b