Late.

Someone tell me why we refer to the deceased as "late". The "late" john jasoffinson, the "late" martha pennywaffle, etc. It seems funny, but strange.

I mean, you KNOW they're dead, right? They aren't late by CHOICE, they're just freakin dead. Late to me implies the person hasn't showed up yet, but will. If someone doesn't show up they just... didn't show up. They weren't late.

"Mommy, where's daddy?"
"He's just late."
"He's been gone for seven years!"
"He's VERY late."

Apparently getting your face chewed off by marmots, being baked in an oven and having your ashes tossed into the sea counts as late. Weird.