How do you want to die?
Happy Friday! Let’s talk about this!
We have a relatively new database up on STLtoday that describes the ways people in Missouri and Illinois have died. Here’s an excerpt from the introduction to the database, which you can explore by clicking this link:
More than 150,000 people die each year in Missouri and Illinois. The information comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which compiles mortality data for the U.S. from death certificates in each state. Some deaths occur from multiple causes, but an overarching cause is determined for almost all deaths. More than 36,000 people in Missouri and Illinois died of some form of cancer in 2004. In St. Louis City, Jackson County, Mo., and Cook County, Ill., more people died from homicides than motor vehicle accidents in 2004.
In my home county in 2004, for example, 10,712 people died. Of those, the lion’s share were by what is described as “natural causes.” Ischemic heart disease was the leading single cause with 2,529 deaths.
I intend to live a good long life and then die in my sleep quietly at home; it isn’t going to be a surprise to anyone. Wish me luck with that.
How do you want to go?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
First choice, freeze to death. If I were to come down with a hopelessly terminal illness, I would say goodbye to my family and board a flight to Tibet. Try to climb Mount Everest with no gear! They say after the initial pain of hypothermia, things become delightful, surreal, even euphoric. one dies in a state of bliss.
Other than that scenario, I’d like to be eaten my a huge beastly animal and re-enter the food chain. Instant karma!
Quickly.
“I’m not afraid of dying; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
–Woody Allen
At about 98+ years, in full health and possession of my so-called mental faculties and after used up all my Social Security that I paid into for 43 years, peacefully and during my sleep after having made my last Confession, attended Mass and received Holy Communion leaving no unpaid debts for my descendants.
I would want to die of old age, not before my childern. I would want to just slip away during the night and not be in pain. I would want to live a full life and acomplish everything that i wish to. I might make a bucket list.
Rather than worrying about how one is going to die, concern yourself with living. Death comes to all, but living a good life is real work.
My Mother worked hard and raised three of us, then in her “retirement” she found many different activities to keep herself going. One morning (April 1st) she got up to get her morning newspaper, and died.
For those concerned about living a long life, remember Mozart died at 35.
And Gauguin began to live at 35.
I would like to be sick for 1 month (so my family will not be shocked when I die and I will not linger), then die peacefully in the arms of someone who loves me.
What kind of an awful topic is this?? Couldn’t the P.D. think of a more cheerful article to post??
On my 100th borthday, of a post coital heart attack.