It's both, my friend! Having managed cemeteries for over 10 years, I'm something of an expert on the subject. Death is an end and a beginning... a metaphysical transmogrification. On one hand there is physical death (which you described), it maintains a balance and a biological necessity at the same time (bodies are not designed to last forever).
But the spirit (soul) is eternal. Epicurus- of the Atomist school of philosophy- wrote: "There is nothing to fear in death for death is merely the dissolution of atoms (physical) and there is nothing to fear in the dissolution of atoms, for when death occurs the soul has already departed."
Wow....10 years is long my friend.
Death is a complex talk, i wonder if those on the other thinks the same thing as us here...
Here's what I think my friend... God puts us here as a test. If we pass the test, we graduate and go some place good. If we flunk...
So true, never thought you are as religious as me old friend...
You see... You just never know!