Objective To investigate whether death education can improve the emotional state and the quality of life in the elderly terminally ill cancer patients. Methods A total of 97 terminally ill patients (68.32±8.78 years old) with cancer admitted in our department from November 2010 to December 2012 were enrolled in this study. They all received individualized death education, once or twice per week, for 4 consecutive weeks. Profile of mood states POMS) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of cancer quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) were conducted on the patients before and after the education. Results After the death education, their scores of tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, and confusion-bewilderment, and the scores of other emotional factors were all significantly reduced (P<0.001). Death education resulted in obvious improvements in the emotional function, cognitive function, social function and the total scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 in the participants (P<0.001). ConclusionDeath education mitigates the fear, worry and pessimism of death, and improves the quality of life in the elderly terminally ill cancer patients.