Is there anything wrong with:
1) Learning the halachos of aveilos when one’s parents are getting old, so that he will be prepared for that eventuality?
2) To write notes of the qualities of a person for a hesped BEFORE the person has passed away?
Answer:
There is nothing wrong with either one of these practices. Some refrain from studying the laws of aveilus, but this is not found in Chazal or poskim as a ‘bad omen,’ and many have studied the laws of aveilus without having any adverse effect on parents.
Noting a person’s qualities is a fine thing to do, and we do it for bar-mitvzah boys, chasanim, and others, without fear.
