This volume is directed toward professionals in the field of death and dying who must be sensitive to the needs of people with cultural patterns that are different from the standard and dominant patterns in the United States and Canada. Accordingly, the book includes illustrative episodes and in-depth presentations of selected ethnic patterns.

The text is divided into three sections – Cross-Cultural and Personal Perspectives; Dying, Death, and Grief Among Selected Ethnic Communities; and Reflections and Conclusions. The eight chapters of the second section describe funeral and mourning customs among both recent immigrant groups, such as the Hmong, and groups who have kept many of their traditional customs despite long contact with the dominant culture. Other chapters examine multicultural issues and provide the means for personal reflection on death and dying. There are also two bibliographic sections, one general and one geared toward children.