dead in the pews

So last Sunday, I believe it was, an older gentlemen in town passed away while attending Sunday mass at the Catholic church. As I spoke to a member of my church about what had happened, they exclaimed how that would be the way to go, right there in church, where you're supposed to be, doing what your supposed to be doing; yet I couldn't help but see something different. By no means am I trying to down play what happened or disrespect anyone, but the only thing I could see was a sad illustration of the state of many church goers; to be dead in the pew.
I believe that for many who go to church, it is nothing more than their weekly ritual. Something they have done since they were children and so it continues to be just that, something they do. For others I believe they go to church out of a sense of guilt, with this idea that if they aren't in their pew on Sunday morning then God wont bless them on Monday. For these, I believe it can be said that they are dead in their pew, or at least they might as well be.
I Do Not believe that this is what God desires. God doesn't want people coming to be with him out of a sense of duty. He doesn't want them coming to Him out of a sense of fear, or guilt. What God wants, what he has always wanted is fully engaged relationship with people who want to be with Him. I can't help but wonder how many church goers are dead in the pews just waiting to be buried.