ABSTRACT
Death is the cessation of life. It is real. The heart has stopped. The brain has ceased to function. The blood is no longer running through the veins. The ability to smell, eat, think, see, taste, feel, and hear are gone. The life of the person who died can neither be repeated nor replaced. Death seems to be an ominous word in the American language. All people must confront their own mortality and the endings with those they love. Harold Kushner reflected on death, grief, and funerals in the film Endings. His words are a powerful summation of memories for anyone facing grief and death. For some people, death is a blessing—no more suffering from terminal illness or the ravages of aging. The victims of horrendous accidents or suicide can cause the hearts of family members to ache vehemently for one more waking moment with a loved one.
