I tend to think a lot of people don't fear the state of death, for lack of a better term, as much as how they are going to get there. You ask anyone, they will just say they want to die in their sleep. No one says they want to have cancer, drown, get shot, starve, etc. Much of the fear comes from not just the unknown, but the potential for pain and suffering- for both one's self and loved ones.

One of the most life changing events for me personally was when my FIL passed. We knew he was going, but the moment it happened was unexpected. (Dying can be a strange process with little rallies. I read somewhere that it takes 1-3 weeks to die.) I had gone to the store to get some Ensure for him and 20 minutes later, I walked back into the house and Boom. There were three of us and we all just stared at each other for a few moments - like, did that really just happen? One thing: you really do see the soul leave the eyes and for a few weeks after, I was awake at night. But while it was shocking initially, I have to say, it lessened my fear of death.