Final answer:
The component that is NOT part of the death system according to Robert Kastenbaum is 'families'. The death system includes people, objects, and symbols, reflecting cultural practices around death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the components that Robert Kastenbaum emphasizes as part of the death system of any culture, families is not one of them. The death system includes components such as people, objects, and symbols, which interact in different ways to create the cultural framework around death. These elements contribute to the way a society marks and deals with death, reflecting the collective beliefs, practices, and values within a given cultural setting. While families obviously play a role in the cultural practices surrounding death, they are not listed as a separate component of the death system in Kastenbaum's model.