You took the words right out of my mouth!
I'm Catholic and married to a Southern Baptist (although he has gone to the Catholic church since before we were married)... I've learned a lot in the years we've been married, from his family. What they don't see is the whole 'communion' of people. Catholics don't differentiate between God's people on earth and God's people in heaven. Therefore if I ask you today to pray for me, and tomorrow you die, I can still ask you to pray for me. We are one community on earth and in heaven.
I think that is a lovely thought, just not sure about it. I wish it to be true, but I just don't know. It is foreign to my way of thinking I guess, because I have never been taught that.