It Still Hurts

My grandmother recently passed away at 91. Although she had suffered from numerous health ailments through the years, what ultimately killed her was a fall in her kitchen (note to seniors: please use your walkers and canes if needed!)

My family has found comfort in the fact that grandma lived a full life. She had a happy marriage, loving children, and she got to see nearly all of her grandchildren get married and have children of their own. Not everyone gets that much. My grandmother died the same week Jennifer Hudson lost three family members—including her seven year-old nephew. That seemed to put our grief into some sort of perspective.

Still, my family has had a hard time dealing with her death, which has come as a bit of a surprise. Not that we didn’t realize we would mourn when the day came, but all of us figured it would be easier to handle because she lived to such an old age. But I’ve come to realize that regardless of how old someone is—or even if you get a chance to say goodbye—you’re never prepared for the death of a loved one. As my friend said to me a few days after the funeral: “Even if she lived to be 100, this would still break your heart.”




Share your stories of coping with loss below. –Linda DiProperzio