In my old congregation we had a man by the name of Hugh who had just started studying at the ripe age of 84. He was already in very bad health (Cancer) but was determined to put forth his best. The Elders asked me to look after him, which meant field service, taking him to his weekly hospital visits in Charleston, SC (100 miles away) and just generally looking after the guy. I looked after him for a period of six months and he progression in his study was slow (according to the Elders), but he had trouble reading the small print in the books. One Elder made a remark that he didn't see Hugh making it into the New System because he would probably die before he was baptized (as if THAT means anything at all other than a public confession of one's faith). I stuck with Hugh despite what the Elder said but he did die 7 months after he started his study and was never recommended for baptism because he hadn't progressed through all 3 books at that time. Hugh had asked the Elders before his death if they would give the eulogy at his funeral. They of course refused because he wasn't baptized and most likely wouldn't be by the time he passed away. Hugh had this non-JW friend who accompanied him everywhere (as she didn't trust me nor the other JW's). She thought we might be trying to take advantage of him.
So as I said he passed away and no JW's went to his funeral. I asked his friend about attending but was told I wouldn't be welcome because of being a JW, despite the love I had shown towards this man. She just felt that we had harmed him enough and I had to agree.