I have read stories from people who work in medicine, who have seen enough of people passing that they recognize patterns beforehand, particularly when they seem to be having conversations with people nobody else can see...that is said to be a fairly regular occurence, that invokes much agreement among near-death researchers, at least the ones I've read.
I have written much here about MaryLou's native beliefs which does not believe in "death", and neither do I...we believe that the end of this life is simply a passage into the next life...weather or not someone on the threshold of that transition can intuitively see it coming, cannot be known for sure...
...But if it is not really "death", but "transition"...that could maybe increase the odds of a premonition.

I don't know if every one does but Mark knew 8 years ago when things started going wrong. He told me he is going to die. We started running tests but they all came back negative. He got a clean bill of health. !!

Only when he passed out behind the wheel of the car did they take it seriously, but still couldn't find what was wrong. (He was only diagnosed correctly about a month before he died.) And treatment only consisted of symptomatic treatment, so we couldn't have done anything differently. Which was a relief to know.

Then a month before he died he said he knows either August or October. And he definitely prepared for us. He stocked the pantry with food. He bought the kids clothes ( he always did our shopping). He spent more time with each of us. Bearing in mind that he was the strongest at this point than he had been in 2 years. We even planned a hunting trip so that father and son could share their precious bonding. It never happened. It's my biggest regret. I didn't take his warning seriously. August 22nd it is. This weekend it's 9 months. How I miss him.

In the few years before Mike was diagnosed with cancer, he became different somehow. He was an even more gentle version of himself and never let anything get him down. He appeared to appreciate everything more than he ever had. On several occasions, he told me that he wouldn't be around into old age ( he was only 58 at this point). At the time I thought it was strange but didn't think about it that much. How right he was because he died four years later. I do believe that on some level he was already prepared to die and when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he calmly accepted it. He lived for 18 months after diagnosis and never got angry or complained once.

Donald told me early in our relationship that he had this feeling he would drown. He did, in his own fluids building up in his lungs. Of course that was just a symptom of the cancer. After Don died I found out he had told his best friend fully three years before that he knew he had cancer and thought he did not have much time left. I wish that friend of his had never told me that as I have had much anger that Don did not tell me nor his doctors he felt that way. He was diagnosed after blood work indicated problems and by that time he was terminal.
I have worked as a Nurses Aid and some of my patients knew and some did not. Most of the patients who knew were pretty far into a disease process. If Ken knew then I would say he was a pretty intuitive person. Maybe he knew but maybe he had become thoughtful about it due to hearing about someone else's passing or maybe something on TV got him thinking "what if".

I believe that my husband didn't know. He was active, went to the gym, worked out, ate healthy and was the picture of health. He was 60 when he left this world.
He had been seeing his doctor for what he believed was a pulled muscle from the gym. All necessary testing was done and nothing showed. When the problem continued more tests were preformed and the diagnosis of lung cancer came. Don often said that he didn't feel like he had cancer. He had cancer previously. I hope I can be as brave and strong as he was when my time comes. He was out of bed every day until the day he died only 10 weeks after diagnosis.

I completely believe it. It may not be true in all cases but in general I certainly do because of stories like this and personal experiences with family over the years.
I believe I will know. If you stay in contact with God thru daily prayer you would have to be aware. The spirit will have to know when it is about to return home.
Take care. Peace, Tim

I think they/ we know on a number of different levels. I believe John became disenchanted with his physical existence, and his expectations for it, perhaps as much as a year before he died. But he never CONCIOUSLY expected or desired death. He was growing more and more concerned about weird physical sensations in his body (diabetic neuropathy, retinal damage from same, even hair loss on his legs!), and more disturbed by the harshness of the world - it really bothered him to see a healthy tree cut down for no other reason than it was a design inconvenience for a new homeowner, or when a speeding driver (usually of a certain make and model of car) would try to cut him off on his bicycle because HE was an inconvenience. And quarrels between us he took more and more to heart - literally.
So, in retrospect, that he felt a "different" feeling in his heart, 2 days before he had the heart attack and drowned, is now a sign to me, that indeed physically he was being prepared.
I too, up to 5 days before his death, was having intense intestinal disturbance that kept me from sleeping through the nights (wasn't the standard gastrointestinal complaint or "something I ate") This was something different and I haven't felt it since. Was I sensing something "in my gut" that I could not reference verbally? I think so.
In the month prior to his death, he started going through a number of his stored belongings, finding his dad's old watch, and a wonderful wooden mask he had cherished all his adult life. I recall him looking at them and sharing their discovery with more care and reverence than he would have shown other items in a clean out before.
And finally the night before he drowned, we decided on going for a meal at one of our favorite restaurants. I mentioned that because it was apt to be pretty busy there with there Monday night special, if we couldn't just get the food to go. John usually preferred to eat the food there, and I think he liked being out in some excitement (since he wasn't finding much in his life or outlook any longer) but he very quietly said to me, "yes, that's fine, we can bring it home."

Yes I think we knew.

In the last few years before Fred died he had to have several hernia surgeries, not fun but not life threatening by any means. He commented several times that he did not think he was going to live much longer. I honestly thought he was being melodramatic and would always tell him not to talk that way. He insisted on us getting life insurance a couple of years before he died. God I miss him. He was the love of my life. Everything is so different and strange now.

The day before Dennis passed was a Saturday,we had done our huge yard and I cut his hair. It was easy he only liked a #2 all over. After we got ever thing done we sat on our deck and add a drink. He started talking about how much he Loved me, our kids and Grand kids even our neighbors. He said when I pass I want you to not let anyone take advantage of you. I said quit talking like that. He said listen to me protect yourself. He said I don't you want you to sit around boo-hooing over me. (that didn't happen).
He went upstairs that night and said he was going to catch up some Game of Thrones and Penny Dreadful he had recorded. I said I'll sleep in the other bedroom tonight. He came and gave me a kiss good and said I love you, I said I love more than you'll ever know. He just smiled with his beautiful blue eyes and said see you in the morning. Sunday(6/14/15) I went upstairs and found he had passed in his sleep(just the way he said he wanted too) of a heart attack. I too had weird feelings all week that something was going to happen. I even told him about it he said your just wore out from getting ready to go on vacation with our kids.

We had talked about a sign we would give each other when one of us passed to show there is an after life. We were married on my Birthday I said if you go first I want not just Red Roses but Yellow too. The morning of our anniversary I woke up and was laying in bed and told him well today is your chance to prove I'll see you again. That afternoon I was in my front yard changing a sprinkler head, I had taken out with the mower. My youngest daughter pulled up and got with a dozen each of Red and Yellow Roses.
She said she was at Costco and was getting to leave when she said, she turned around and saw the roses she just knew she had to buy them for me. First she put red and white in the basket and was walking away, she turned around and saw the yellow and thought I think Mom would like those instead. When I told her about the signs her Dad and I given each other we both had a good cry.
Sorry didn't mean to be so long winded Happy Trails and Peace. Gail

I should have added he was a police officer for 24 years and normally wouldn't have talked like that. He was kind of a skeptic when it came to anything to do with the after life. He has given us all many signs he is still around. Yes, I think knew he was leaving or at least his spirit did.
I still miss him every minute of everyday.
I re-read my post looks like I left out a couple of words ;-).
Happy Trails....Gail

Ken's Uncle went and got his hair trimmed up, nails done and went a visited people he hasn't in years. This was the day before he passed.
I think Uncle Moon knew as well.
The day before Ken became unresponsive he asked for all the grandchildren and Great-grandsons be brought up so he could see them. He was in hospital. He gave them all hugs and kisses and cried when they left. They were his world and I think he knew he wouldn't see them again.
The next morning after our son spent the night with his dad he told our son to watch over me mad him promise and said get your Mum up here soon.
I walked in said " Good morning Sweet Cheeks I loveyou" I looked at him he tried to smile with tears running down his cheeks he said " I love you "
Last words he ever spoke to me.
I told him if he was tired to go to sleep. He never ever woke up.
I truly believe he knew there was no hope.

I think sometimes our souls know, something isnt right, lots of weird things happened to us before my husband died, adoption went through, I said something to him, that hinted that something just didnt seem right.. etc.. who knows, but I think our guts/souls, know when something doesnt seem right. the night before my husband died, he hadnt been intimate with me in almost 6 weeks because he was in alot of pain, awaiting surgery,, we were intimate the night before he passed away, it was so sensuous, explain, why that specific night. other weird happenings too.. just kind of weird, isnt it? Your not alone with those feelings.. Much love and hugs carla

Oh how our hearts and minds will not give us rest. Sharon when I read your circumstances, it was like reading my own. My husband ate well, went to gym a few times a week, never smoked, ex marine, hiked, walked. He was in great shape. Came home from gym with leg pain. First thought it was a pulled muscle. After a few days, had to rush him to doctor where he ordered xray of leg and a brain scan. I guess I was too naive to think why a brain scan. Both scans were clear. Doctor then ordered a lumbar MRI and chest xray and wow our lives changed forever. Stage iv lung cancer. Brought me to my knees. much peace to all.