Perhaps not surprisingly the library never really caught on with the general public. Similarly, Hultquist said that he used to speak frequently to children about death but that interest among local schools has waned. To Hultquist, much of the reluctance to learn about death stems from the country's relatively comfortable standard of living, a standard that does not exist in many countries where violence and unexpected death are more commonplace. It's always been our way to just avoid it. O. Duane Weeks, a Washington state funeral director for 36 years, says that, although he is encouraged by the existence of resource centers such as the Valley Funeral Home's, he believes that few people will take advantage of them before death touches their lives.
Weeks has a doctorate in sociology with a specialty in death education.
You need to know it ahead of time. Some say that an understanding of the subject can help erase the common superstition that death is somehow contagious. It takes the fear away. As Weeks explains, the most important aspect of death education is letting people know that they are not alone. There are a lot of different feelings people have, and they're all normal.