How old were you when your parents died

[Fahhgedaboutit]

And how did you cope? DH and I are mid 30s and lucky enough to have both our sets of parents still here. But I’m increasingly aware of their ages and that we have limited time left with them and the thought of losing them puts me into such a panic.

How do you cope with losing the people that love you more than anyone else in this world (I appreciate not everyone has that relationship with their parents)? My parents are so, so lovely and I couldn’t imagine life without them or the grief ever ending.

40 when DF died. That was very sad.
67 for DM, but TBH her death came as at least partly a relief, since she was 97 and had had Alzh. for around 15 years. Late stage dementia is a fate I wouldn’t wish on anybody, and her former self would have been appalled at what she’d become.

I was 58 when my father died - it was expected as he had had cancer - and 60 when my mother died. Her death was unexpected.
I do think that at some point you know they are not going to last forever. Doesn't stop you missing them, though.

Because mine were actually elderly at 84 and 93 it felt very fair if that makes sense. I knew a younger guy whose Mum died when he was only 14 and my mates Mum died when she was only 10, they are the ones I feel bad for.