In today's fragmented medical care system, closure almost never happens. Patients and providers move in and out of each other's lives and patient-provider relationships - no matter how strong at times - wither. The importance of closure, of shared narrative is so often lost. One remedy is to be part of the societal tradition of funerals. There are so many emotions involved - guilt, connection, anxiety, joy - but all lead to some level of shared experience. That is why I still go to my patient's funeral whenever possible.