Parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters, a beloved aunt or uncle, or a dead lover. Love transcends death and if someone you dearly loved is gone ahead of you, be sure they will be waiting eagerly on the other side. That applies to animals as well. A much loved dog or cat may be the first one to greet you on the other side. If there is no family available, guides and spirit helpers are always there to assist those who cross over.
Helpers appear in a familiar form to reassure the confused newly dead.
They may come as gods or gurus or whatever the person expects. In a catastrophe like a war or a plane crash, where many people cross over at the same time - helpers, spirit guides and relatives of all gather in advance to greet the newcomers and lighten their transition. If you have been with a family member who died you know that, at the moment of death, they often call out to someone you cannot see. They are greeting their relatives or guides. Whoever they need, depending on their belief, will be there to greet them.