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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be tearful about ...

21 replies

Chippednailvarnish · 14/02/2014 01:48

I've been invited to a school reunion and given I went to a medium size high school I have been shocked by how many people have died since we left.
Given we are under 40, there have been 2 deaths of people in my year, 4 teachers (not yet at retirement age) and at least 10 parents who have passed away.
Maybe I have been lucky to have only known older people who have died? But I'm surprised by how sad it's made me...

OP posts:
yolothankgod · 14/02/2014 01:56

That's pretty good figures tbh though I do see where you are coming from

I'm mid 20s & went to a small school & at least 16 people from my year have died & I'm doubting many of my teachers are alive as they were all late 50s when teaching me

Brew
Original poster
Chippednailvarnish · 14/02/2014 01:58

Blimey, makes me wonder how the average life expectancy is 80+

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 14/02/2014 02:02

Both of my sons went to at least 2-3 funerals of contemporaries while still at school. One 17 yo (not known to us) suicided at the road end, and damn near killed a pregnant neighbour. But we're rural, dc get driving licences asap, teens do daft things in cars. May/June is killing season round here. Hate it every year.

Original poster
Chippednailvarnish · 14/02/2014 14:29

That's tragic old, there fortunately haven't been any suicides, I'm just struck by how many people have gone, given their young ages.

OP posts:
ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 14/02/2014 14:33

It is sad.

Two teachers have died from 2 of my schools and they died more than 15 years ago so not that old. One from cancer.

I haven't heard that any of my friends have died but 2 have divorced. I was really happy to see a friend who married very young as was expecting is still with her husband. Another friend is a granddad! That was a shock.

LaurieFairyCake · 14/02/2014 14:35

There are at least 4 dead in my year. Too many parents dead to count.

Early 40's.

Original poster
Chippednailvarnish · 14/02/2014 14:38

I've clearly been very lucky in my life. I would strangely find it easier if it had been accidents, but one poor guy went to bed one night and simply didn't wake up again Sad

OP posts:
IPokedABadgerWithASpoon · 14/02/2014 14:40

Im in my mid 20s and there have been 2 deaths, one severe accident and quite a few who have lost parents from my year group...

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 14/02/2014 14:44

That is sad, Chipped Sad.

Just remembered my oldest friend has lost her mother.

My in-laws are the oldest generation in our family now, apart from a Great Aunt of my DH's, and it is sobering.

Original poster
Chippednailvarnish · 14/02/2014 15:55

I just can't see how we're meant to on average live into our 80's? That's probably why I'm so surprised.

OP posts:
manchestermummy · 14/02/2014 16:38

Mid 30s, none of my classmates (from my year) have died as far as I know, but sadly many have lost parents.

A number of friends are divorced too.

FrankelInFoal · 14/02/2014 16:44

I'm 32, I know of at least 3 former classmates that have died since we left school (1 cancer, 1 drug related and 1 car accident) and another 5 who have been in prison, mainly for drug related offences. I went to school in a classy area me Blush

GoldenGytha · 14/02/2014 16:44

Mid 40's, and although I don't know the exact number of deaths, I know there have been quite a few, suicides, Iraq war in 1991 and illnesses.

Very few parents still living, but a surprisingly high number of teachers still around, considering that most were in their 50's and I left school 30 years ago.

AcaciaBeez · 14/02/2014 16:59

I left school 4 years ago and 2 people from my year have died (including my best friend) - I don't know of any teachers that have died though

Original poster
Chippednailvarnish · 14/02/2014 20:03

Interestingly all the surviving female teachers who were "Mrs So and so" are now "Mrs remarried"... Not sure how many of my year are divorced.

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 14/02/2014 20:06

I'm 34 and 3 of my year are dead - 1 murdered, 1 car crash and 1 on the operating table during a routine procedure :(

3littlefrogs · 14/02/2014 20:14

I remember being shocked when my mum told me that every single boy in her class at her primary school was killed in the war. Sad

Ellypoo · 14/02/2014 20:24

Not sure about teachers, but by the time I was 20, I had been to the funerals of 6 school friends. Not a huge school, smallish town.

AngryFeet · 14/02/2014 20:37

Only 1 person in my class has died (I am 35). That was from breast cancer in her mid twenties. I have known 4 other people who died young - 2 suicides, one killed by a drunk driver and one murdered on holiday (all boys). Very sad but considering how many people I have ever met in my lifetime not that unusual I guess. Not that many parents seem to have died yet but most will be early sixties so fairly young for many to have popped their clogs.

sparklyma · 14/02/2014 20:56

1 teacher and 1 guy dead from when I was at school. Cancer and car crash.

SoldAtAuction · 15/02/2014 04:42

14 died while I was in high school- suicides, car accidents, drownings, snowmobile accidents, skiing accident, boating accident, cancer, meningitis, hit by lightening, drug overdose, and hunting accident.
Since then, 8 that I know of have passed, plus 6 teachers.
More parents than I can count, it breaks my heart.

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