I want confirmation of and sources for the origin of what I understand
is the Russian "weeper" tradition.
As I understand, in Russia, weepers prepared the dying by recalling
shared incidents in their lives and by recalling, strengthened the
dying person's sense of having lived a full life.

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Clarification of Question by deskpilotuser-ga on 12 May 2004 16:48 PDT

Delete "Russian"

I've never heard about such a tradition. According to famous Dal
dictionary definition "weeper" was a person who wept at funerals
(certainly after the death) or so called "devichnik" a special party
where just a girl who was going to get married soon and her friends
also girls took part.

Hopefully this is the answer to your question. I am new here and can't
post it as an answer (I can't guess why)

Thank you for your comment.
Possibly I am mistaken about the location where this tradition occurred.

As I understand this tradition, weepers prepared the dying by recalling
shared incidents in their lives and by recalling, strengthened the
dying person's sense of having lived a full life.