Have you heard of the notion that people sometimes die at the same age as their same-sex parent? (Fairly light-hearted)

[niska]

I'd never heard of this before, but it turns out my mum died at the same age as her mother - quite an early age: 67. A friend told me it's not unusual. I mentioned it at my evening class, and of seven of us, two others said that, on reflection, their father and grandfather had died at the same age. Other classmates were extremely dismissive of this being a thing.

I'm not looking for an argy-bargy, and I hope no-one will take offence, but I'd be intrigued to know if anyone else has heard of this. Also, if you think about it, has it happened with any of your ancestors?

Can't see the lightheartedness in this. Fairly recently bereaved though. Another one who hopes not as my DM was 59

It was a strange feeling Orange. Also my anxiety went out of control, not helped by the fact that I had a very young child the same age I was when she died. It also brought home to me just how young she was when she died.

My maternal grandmother died just after 50. As my mother was approaching that age she was certain she was also going to die.
Same with my H, his father had a stroke age 49 and died soon after. H was convinced he would also die at same age.
Didn’t happen.

How long you live is down in part to genetics so it’s not surprising that people die at similar ages to their parents and of similar things. Medical treatment is so much better now though and something that might have killed you 30 years ago can be survivable now. My maternal grandmother died at 60 but my mum is 71 and going strong so if you are feeling anxious remember it’s not a reliable indicator at all.

@TwistedStitch when I turn 49 one of my DC will be the same age as I was when mum died - it really does bring home how young mum was and how young I was.

@twattymctwatterson

It's not light-hearted is it? God knows why it's in the title.

If we were to believe it, I have less than six years to live...fucking great.

DF lost his father and grandfather when they were both just 40. He’s made it to 80 and going strong.
I can remember him having a huge party for his 41st.

Doesn't sound very light-hearted to me. .y DM died at 67. My birthday's next week. I'll be 67!

If that were true, both of my parents would have been long since dead, but thankfully, they're both still alive and kicking.

Well my mother was 42 when she died and I'm 39 so I sure hope not.
Both of my grannies are in their 80s though and are still very 'with it' so there's hope for me yet....
Shortly before my mother died she told me that she regretted that she never got to visit Paris so I'm going to do that next year for my 40th.

Seems unlikely since people are generally living longer. If everyone died at the same age as their parent through the generations then we'd still all be dying in our 40s or whatever

My understanding of "Light-hearted" is that it originated as a warning in MN thread titles that people who are easily triggered should not read it. It's not a thread for people who are recently bereaved. Maybe I should have put "TRIGGERING" in the title instead. I don't really want to bother MNHQ asking for it to be deleted, unless those of you who are triggered really want me to? It's the first thread I've started in years, and I won't start another one. Thanks to those who've responded in the spirit of the thread.

I'm out of this now, so let's allow the thread to die a natural death.

My very lovely Nanny died at 79 but I asked Dm when her Nanny died and she said just shy of her 80th birthday. DM in her 60s now

Thanks to those who've responded in the spirit of the thread

The thread is about death, particularly the death of parents. What was the 'spirit' of the thread exactly? People have responded in various ways, all appropriate to the subject.

Not in our family DF currently 86 his Dad died at 77. DM currently 80 her mum died at 78.

Maternal grandfather died early 60's his sons are currently 87 and 85.

Paternal grandfather died at 78 only one of his six sons made it past 73.

And putting 'light hearted' in a thread title doesn't magically make it so.

That’s not been my experience. My mother is dead but her mother is still alive for example.

Thanks for bumping the thread anyway, TwistedStitch.

I’m not recently bereaved, I’m not remotely triggered.

You wanted ask to provide anecdotes on a stupid little known myth that women who’ve lost their mothers young are likely to die young too.

This is not my understanding of light-hearted.

It's called responding to an active thread.

And I'm sorry if my little anecdote about my mother dying at the age of 30 wasn't in the spirit of your thread, where you actively asked about the age people's parents died.

My mother is 68 and not likely to see 70 due to a rare illness. Her mother (my GM) is 88 next month and has only just given up driving.

My grandad spent years telling us none of the men in his family lived past 75. He was 86 when he died and I suspect was slightly irritated he’d been proved wrong.