Someone special exited this life..

"Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever." Found this quote whilst mulling over some words of comfort for those feeling the loss..
I honestly don't know what can bring comfort when you lose someone you love-only that those who have observed suffering know that their loved one is now at peace.
Anyone with a remotely sensitive bone in their bodies can't help but suffer when seeing the dazed confused look on the face of someone in pain over the loss of their loved one, as they hope that the person who has gone will miraculously walk back through the door again...the death is all a huge mistake..
I guess we all empathize in our personal ways: In my case i see a young girl before me who has lost her mother; I feel the pain of a motherless child the same age as my daughter, and can't imagine my own daughter feeling that loss, that profound emptiness. I then try to imagine my world without my own mother and quite frankly, Id rather not.
What do we learn from other's pain? Is it just a fleeting awakening in which we momentarily appreciate those around us much more more than usual..then with time we return to our lives as before, squabbling over petty issues, having already forgotten the true value of life, good health, and the few people who really matter to you?
I try to overcome the cynicism and hope that we are greater than that..but i can't help wondering...perhaps it's only when you live it-face to face-hold the hand of a dying loved one and watch them pass on that you are genuinely touched by it. It's the only certainty in life;that each and everyone of us pass on at some time or another and i try to overcome this fear of the unknown with acceptance and the hope thats it is painless and peaceful as possible..and yet is that the true fear or is it of the after-the unknown realm? where do we go? what if anything do we feel? experience?
Is it the problem in the west at least, that there is so little dialogue on the subject? if we were encouraged to discuss it openly and naturally would it help to dispel our fear? Perhaps this subject should be brought up in school at an early age..perhaps the open acceptance of youth would dispel this fear in adulthood..