I watched my father's death on my 55th birthday. I've assisted many clients with the death of their loved ones including field trips with those who were dying into the afterlife. Like a field-trip into the afterlife and back into their bodies before death.

From my experience most people project their ideas/beliefs of the afterlife onto "the life here after" and live in that for a time constantly surrounded by love. After that fades they examine their latest life to see what different choices could have turned our in a different way.

P.S. The love does not fade only the projected beliefs.