ABSTRACT
Just as you may have been touched in some way by death and have had to find ways to handle its impact, people in all places and at all times have found ways to come to terms with death and dying. A friend and colleague, Dale McGinnis, was an anthropologist. I often sat in on his classes. I can recall him saying on several occasions, “Death is something that all cultures have to deal with in one way or another.” Referring to funerals, I also remember him saying, “One day we’ll all be the star of that show.” How prophetic were his words, for Dale, one of the most gifted teachers I’ve ever known, was battling terminal cancer. He died in less than a year. Fully in character, however, he refused to be the star of “that show” by not showing up. He requested that there be no service.
