Um, romantic? Not at all. Depending on how death comes, it might be a calm passing from (this) life--or at least it might *appear* that way outwardly. We can't know what those supposedly peaceful (by appearance) people might be experiencing in those last moments.

I have been with several people, all of them very elderly, who were right at the threshold of death. I wasn't there precisely at the proverbial last breath, but within minutes on either side. Some of those experiences were quite profound.

But I have also been with much younger people who were losing their battles with devastating illness and surgical complications, and it was anything BUT peaceful or romantic. There was no noise, no making of scenes or anything like that. But the vibe in the room was totally different.

Furthermore, I have held many four footed family members as they passed on, thankfully all at advanced ages and given a calm end by a wonderful vet. There's nothing romantic about it, just sad. Loving, yes. Romantic, hell no.

The romanticization of death is IMNSHO a dreadful lie. It's too bad that in many Western countries we are so separated from the death process. I think we could all benefit from a closer connection with the dying and the recently dead. We would harbor far fewer foolish ideas and maybe live a bit more mindfully.