Except that when you're dealing with grief or another type of extreme stress, that whole sense of light-hearted context dependent word play goes out the window.

Except that when you're dealing with grief or another type of extreme stress, that whole sense of light-hearted context dependent word play goes out the window. The patterned responses are no longer appropriate, and falling back on literal interpretation is the only thing you have in you. GP, I feel you. Personally I often just said/say "okay" or "alright", which decidedly means not okay in the cultural context, but I don't particularly care about ruffling feathers.