Death is merely a transition of the spirit between different states of being. Heaven is a community and a state of being which revolves around goodwill and useful service. Angels are people who have gone to heaven.
"It is a law of the divine design that the closer and closer we come to God, which is something we have to do as if we were completely on our own, the closer and closer God comes to us. When we meet, God forms a partnership with us."