As a funeral director over the past twenty years, Lance Cox has observed a dramatic shift in American mourning practices, from somber traditional ceremonies to increasingly casual celebrations of life. While this evolution reflects changing cultural attitudes, Cox highlights that our rush to lighten the mood of death may be robbing us of essential grieving experiences. Drawing from centuries-old customs and contemporary experiences, he reveals how traditional mourning rituals served vital emotional and social purposes, offering a compelling vision for how we can blend time-honored practices with modern sensibilities to create more meaningful and healing approaches to death and loss. Lance has been in the death care industry for over 20 years and is a licensed funeral director, licensed embalmer, crematory operator, certified funeral celebrant, and holds a degree in Mortuary Science. He owns funeral businesses in Idaho, Washington, and Nevada.In the last two decades, he has witnessed a transformation in the way Americans mourn. Reviewing the past traditions of those in grief, he believes we can create a healthier societal view of death for the future.A native of Southern Idaho, he now resides in Spokane, WA with his wife and three children. He has been an involved member of the Barbershop Harmony Society since his youth and has served as music director for two community choruses and performed in several quartets. He spends any free time with his family or pursuing better musical skills. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx