The Double Meaning of George's Statement In Section 6

At the end of Section 6, the reader must witness the tragic death of Lennie by George's hand for the accidental murder of Curley's wife.  Before Lennie is shot, George consents to tell him one last time how they were going to have their own place.  "'Guys like us got no fambly.  They make a little stake an' then they blow it in. They ain't got nobody in the worl' that gives a hoot in hell about 'em... but not us... because - because I got you an' -' 'An' I got you.  We got each other, that's what, that gives a hoot in hell about us...' 'We'll have a cow.' said George. 'An' we'll have maybe a pig an' chickens... an' down the flat we'll have a... little piece alfalfa'- 'for the rabbits,' Lennie shouted... 'Ever'body gonna be nice to you.  Ain't gonna be no more trouble.  Nobody gonna hurt nobody nor steal from you'" (Steinbeck 103).  It seems like George wanted Lennie to die thinking of something that made him happy, rather than continuing to worry that George was going to "give him hell" for killing Curley's wife.  However, if we dig deeper, another meaning can be obtained from George's last statement.
As George fantasized about their ranch with Lennie for the last time, he begins to get upset, as exemplified by the many breaks in his sentences.  But, as he spoke, George began to speak less about the ranch and more about the paradise of the afterlife.  The last sentence was not only George feeding Lennie lies so he could have a peaceful death, but also a way to reassure himself Lennie would have a happier life in heaven.
Even though Lennie's death was tragic, I feel it was essential to the story.  Because of his disabilities, Lennie never could have led a normal life, even on a new ranch.   He could never truly be happy in life, as he would still be persecuted by society for his differences.  He wouldn't even get to tend to his rabbits, as he would most likely kill them like his mice or puppy. Lennie felt he would finally be happy on a new ranch, his paradise.  But, in actuality, he could only be accepted in heaven/ the afterlife.  So, in a way, Lennie got what he wanted.  He made it to paradise and would finally get to tend to the rabbits.    😌