That quote, I think, is from before Christ, who revealed that the ‘faithful departed’ are not dead, but living. I’m sure you know what He said about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
This is why, historically, Christians have always asked for and received the intercession of the holy ones who have gone on before us. It is because of the realization that they are alive in Christ. We a reunited to them in bonds of love, which is stronger than death.
Funny, Paul nor any of the other NT writers ever appealed to Abraham or Elijah or anyone else except God.
You can’t ask the dead anything. That’s just a fact of life.
And why bypass the Living God to try and speak to the dead. That’s necromancy!