Kenneth J. Doka - When We Die

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

When We Die: Extraordinary Experiences at Lifes End 2020 by Kenneth J. Doka, PhD.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

As the purchaser of this e-book, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. The text may not be otherwise reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or recorded on any other storage device in any form or by any means.

Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the authors copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition 2020

E-book ISBN: 9780738763194

Book design by Samantha Penn

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Doka, Kenneth J., author.

Title: When we die : extraordinary experiences at lifes end / Kenneth J.

Doka.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Publications,

[2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: When

We Die explores spiritual experiences related to death and dying, such

as premonitions of death, near death experiences, and afterlife

communication. The book includes examples of death coincidences,

terminal lucidity, ghosts, reincarnation, and several other kinds of

phenomena. It uses stories and research about unusual events that are

related to the dying process to help readers come to their own

understanding of what those experiences could mean in their lives

Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020029704 (print) | LCCN 2020029705 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738762937 (paperback) | ISBN 9780738763194 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: DeathPsychological aspects. | DeathReligious aspects. |

Near-death experiences. | Deathbed hallucinations.

Classification: LCC BF789.D4 D587 2020 (print) | LCC BF789.D4 (ebook) |

DDC 133.9dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020029704

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020029705

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publishers website for links to current author websites.

Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

My Family

My Friends and Neighbors

My Colleagues

Past and Present

For Their Love and Fellowship

For Their Constant Support and Encouragement

For All the Memories

Through So Many Years

For These Truly Are GiftsForever

Contents

: Standing at the Edge of Forever

: Premonitions of Death

: Nearing Death Awareness

: Near-Death Experiences

: CoincidentlyDeath

: Finding Before Losing: Terminal Lucidity

: Those Extraordinary Experiences

: Messages and Mediums

: Ghosts and Apparitions

: In My Last Life

: We All Live at the Edge of Forever When We Die

Acknowledgments

First and foremost I have to thank my agent, Kathy Green, for her constant support. Without her belief in the project, it would never have come to fruition. And, of course, I need to acknowledge my editor at Llewellyn, Angela Wix, as well as Kat Sanborn. They, too, believed. And I thank Hanna Grimson for a masterful job at copyediting.

Five people also offered their advice, careful edits, and constant encouragement. Dr. Charles Corr has been my mentor and friend for almost forty yearsover half my life. I often wonder if he ever realized he would be my foremost editor for all those years. I need, as well, to acknowledge his faithful wife, Donna, for her years of friendship and support. As I indicate in the introduction, Dr. Terri Daniel has been instrumental in this project. Not only did she elicit my initial interest, throughout the writing process she, too, offered edits, comments, and most importantly, a foreword. Larry Laterza is my oldest friendliterally from second grade. He not only strongly encouraged this book but also assisted with his comments and edits. And another of my oldest friends, Lynn Miller, through many years, encouraged me to nurture my interest in this fieldsharing her remarkable experiences in her journey through life.

My many colleagues in the Association for Death and Counseling (ADEC) and the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement (IWG) also provided constant support and friendship through so many years. At the risk of leaving off some critical names, I do want to especially acknowledge Thomas Attig, Leslie Balmer, Robert Bendiksen, John Birrell, Phil Carverhill, Betty Davies, Stephen Fleming, Chris Hall, Neil Heflin-Wells, Nancy Hogan, Terry and Gail Martin, Robert Neimeyer, Danai Papadatou, Colin Murray Parkes, Van Pine, Therese A. Rando, Henk Schut, Sherry Schachter, Kathleen Shears, Margaret Stroebe, and J. William Worden for all the stimulation and camaraderie contributed over so many years.

My college, now sadly closed, was a beacon of support throughout my years there. While there are so many colleagues I can recognize here, Marie Ribarich, Wendi Vescio, Joe Biscoglio, Diane Lewis, and Vera Mezzacuella do deserve special mention. As do three others: Claire Lavin, Dennis Ryan, and Lynda Shand. They all shared my interest in end-of-life. In fact, Denniss work on dreams is noted in the book. But all three contributed support, stimulation, and companionship throughout my decades at the college.

For almost thirty years, I have had the privilege of being a consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA). This has helped me professionally in so many ways. Each year, preparation for a new teleconference and accompanying book continues to make me stretch my professional knowledge. In addition, I have enjoyed the professional stimulation and personal friendships of so many wonderful people I have met there including the late Jack Gordon, Myra MacPherson, David Abrams, Lisa Veglahn, Norman Sherman, Lindsay Currin, and the rest of the HFA staffpast and present. I have to give special thanks and mention to my often-collaborator and co-editor and always friend: HFAs CEO, Amy Tucci.