When a Righteous Person dies

B"H

The Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in Talmud Megillah 15a teaches us:

And Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Chanina:

When a righteous person is lost (dies), he is only lost to his generation, for his soul lives on. This can be analogized to a person who lost a pearl - it continues to exist. Thus, in effect, it is only lost to its owner.

Here, the Gemara is referring to a "righteous" but, however, maybe some people who are in mourning at the moment, may find some comfort in this.

The Talmudic commentator Maharsha states:

During his lifetime a righteous man protects the members of his generations (through his deeds). When he dies this protection lost, but his soul lives on in the next world (here: the spiritual world of the souls).