YC the Pai Mei guy posted last week about Dr. Randy Pausch, the Last Lecture professor from his alma mater. His death was not sudden, but his whole purpose was to make the last days of his life count, so that he can be remembered by his kids. That is something to aspire to.
I went to a memorial service last weekend in Toms River for someone I worked with at my alma mater. I had not seen her in close to 5 years, yet this was so sudden, very sudden. From her, I learned a lot about empathy, a skill that she had in droves — perhaps too much more than she could bear herself.
I hope that both can rest in peace.