There was a campaign that started about 15 years ago that addressed this exact issue. Someone was rightly frustrated by the $ donated by all these tragic campaigns that could have gone instead to paying life insurance policies. The amount raised in one campaign could have paid for thousands of polices (with much more dignity too).
Keep in mind that while all these deaths are tragic, not all campaigns are equal. If an 80-year-old woman passes away after all children have been married off, it may be sad but may not warrant a campaign to support her husband who never had a job.
Alos keep in mind that you can buy 30-year policies when a person is young that should last until a person is old enough that his expenses will be less. I bought a 30-year policy when I was in my thirties for $40 a month for a $500,000 policy.