In reference to most your quoted list I have a neat story: After a few days in the hospital, and after there was no hope of recovery, I had to move my mom to a nursing home. I had already contacted hospice and they were kind of in charge of any care she would receive at that point. After she arrived at the nursing home I was sitting with her and a staff woman walked in. She introduced herself as the "Activities Director". I was confused at first since there was obviously no way that Mom would be participating in any activities. But I found out that she would be in charge of playing music, reading to Mom, etc. when any family member wasn't present. This was all part of the hospice care. She interviewed me for 15-20 minutes about Mom's interests, travel, career, and much more. I told her a little bit of Mom's participation/interests in those things. At the end of the interview the Activities Director looked at me and said, "Wow, your Mom had an awesome life!" Yes she did. And it was because of those items mentioned in your quoted list, not because of the money she made, or any of the other "tangibles", but because of the lives she had touched.

And with reference to point 5, Mom's pre-paid, pre-planned funeral was a blessing to my sister and I. There were only a few decisions to be made (mostly flowers and such), and, because the cemetery had adjusted its costs (of course up), only a little more money to be paid. I highly recommend that everyone do this.

Robert, I hope that your friend's life, short as it may have been, was truly "awesome".

Kevin