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Original poster

To ask if anyone past 30 still has a full set of grandparents?

325 replies

ComposHatComesBack · 24/04/2015 11:45

I'm mid 30s and have one grandparent left. Most people I know of a similar age are in a similar boat 0-2 grandparents still alive.

Out of curiosity really, has anyone been lucky enough to have made it past 30 with the 'full set' of two grandfathers and grandmothers?

OP posts:
CPtart · 24/04/2015 21:48

I'm 43 and my grandma is 89 this year. She only lost her husband, my grandad two years ago. They were married 65 years. It's been nice for DC to have known some of their great grandparents.

Chunkymonkey79 · 24/04/2015 21:55

I am 24, and have had 3 all my life.

Harbourgirl · 24/04/2015 22:18

One of my friends is mid-30s and has all of her GPs & several GGPs still alive. I met the friend through baby groups & initially thought it was a bit twee that she always referred to relatives by their position to her pfb. It took me ages to realise that when she said she was off out for lunch with her great gran, it was her great gran & pub's great great gran. Friend's parents were 16 & 17 when she was born & parents' parents had also had DC as teens.

One of my GP died before I was born, another when I was 14, a third when I was 25 and the other is still alive. DP no longer has any GP's alive but one only died a few years ago.

iniquity · 24/04/2015 22:31

All alive still at 31
Oldest 95 youngest 92
Every time the phone rings I worry though

EndoplasmicReticulum · 24/04/2015 22:41

I did. I was 36 when I lost the first. I'm now 41 and just have one left.

Christelle2207 · 24/04/2015 22:41

I'm 36 and lost the last one when I was 16. They died before I was born then when I was 6, 12 and 16. Hmm My dh had one living pair until very recently.

tellmemore1982 · 24/04/2015 22:49

Compos (if you find this!) yes you're absolutely right.

I am in the position where I am bringing up a three year old and a two month old whilst looking after my parents. It also means I don't have any family help at home with my own children. Sometimes I wonder if people know how lucky they are to have healthy older generations in the family.

crazycatlady82 · 24/04/2015 23:05

I never had a full set - dad's side were all dead before I was born and my grandad on my mum's side again died before I was born. My grandmother on mum's side died when I was 4. I liked her though.

It makes me desperate for my children to at least have one set of grandparents.

dillydottydally · 24/04/2015 23:06

One died before I was born, the last one died when I was 17.

cuphat · 24/04/2015 23:14

I'm mid thirties and still have both full sets.

buffythemuffinslayer · 24/04/2015 23:17

I don't really qualify as I'm 27, but I do anticipate all three of my remaining grandparents being with us when I'm 30. Grandfather on my mum's side died when I was 4.

I also have a great grandmother still alive on my dad's side - the other (also in my dad's side) died a couple of years ago and was 100.

I tend to worry about my grandfather, not my grandmothers. Or even my great grandmother who is approaching 100 - she's very sprightly and independent, no illness at all, I expect she'll go naturally, quietly and very happily like my other great grandmother. On both sides of the family the women seem to outlive the men and live to very ripe old ages.

However my DS is 4 and already only has three grandparents- my dad died a long time before he was born. Life is unpredictable.

OneTwoManyLots · 24/04/2015 23:23

I'm 34 and have 2 left.

My parents are only in their 50's so hopefully have decades left and be around for my DC for a long time.

SycamoreMum · 24/04/2015 23:43

I'm 30 and have one Great Grandmother, and three Grandparents left. My mums father passed away a few weeks before I turned 30.

So my darling DD has all of her Grandparents (my dad had a stroke a few weeks ago and we almost lost him but God willing he's here and fighting Smile), she has three Great Grandparents and one Great Great Grandmother.

tilliebob · 25/04/2015 07:13

Not now, but I had a full set of grandparents until I was 37. My dcs actually had 3 gt grandparents when they were little. My grandparents (DF's parents) celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary - 70years - in Dec 2007. Grandad died a few months later at 93 and Gran died 5 years later at 93 too. Although I was 42 when she died, I'm still coming do terms with her loss and not being a granddaughter any more. I miss it.

Mousefinkle · 25/04/2015 07:26

I'm not quite past 30 but I don't have a full set so obviously won't then... I have three, my paternal GF died of cancer when I was four. DH has his two Grandmothers but both Grandfathers have died. I'm just trying to think if I know anyone that still has both sets alive and I don't.

Superherosidekick · 25/04/2015 07:27

I did! I started to lose my grandparents age 33, so my DS had 4 great grandparents for a short time too. My DH on the other hand lost the last of his grandparents in his 20's, he never knew his fathers parents.
My mum and dad were only 21 when they had me though so that might explain why I still had great grandparents when I was born too. My great gran died age 103 when I was 20

iamdivergent · 25/04/2015 08:09

I'm almost 30 I have 2 grans, 1 papa (other papa would still have likely been alive - would be 69 now, but was killed) and a great grandfather

ShowMeYourTARDIS · 25/04/2015 08:15

All of mine were gone at 20. 3 were gone at 15. And one passed many years before I was born.

My grandparents were old though. I was born in the early 90s, and they were all born in the early/mid 1920s. Some were 70 (or nearly) by the time I showed up.

TigerTrumpet · 25/04/2015 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DMCWelshCakes · 25/04/2015 09:11

DH had all his GP until he was 35, at 37 he's now down to one.

I had 2 GP left when I hit 30 (one on each side) and both are still alive.

I really wish they weren't still alive though as they're both very ill, have zero quality of life and keep saying they're ready to go. It would also be much easier on my parents (both 68) who are doing the emotional caring for them and are struggling to reconcile the people that my GP once were with what they've been reduced to.

Sometimes longevity is just cruel.

DMCWelshCakes · 25/04/2015 09:13

Meant to say, they're 92 and 98 now.

Sansarya · 25/04/2015 11:01

My paternal grandfather died when I was 12 but I had all three other GPs til I was 24 and my maternal GF died. My paternal GM died when I was about 27 but my maternal GM is still going strong at 91 and has been lucky enough to have seen all 7 of her GGCs.

My GPs who are no longer here all lived to at least 80 so I guess we're a long lived family. My 91yo GM's oldest sister is still alive and going on for 101!

Ilovenannyplum · 25/04/2015 11:09

I'm 27, my last great grandparent died last month and I have a full set of grandparents.
My family started very young and I'll always be incredibly grateful that I got to spend so much time with them all. Plus my 8 month old got to meet his last great great grandmother which was lovely

sashh · 25/04/2015 11:44

One grandfather died before I was born, the other when I was early 20s, my nana in my 30s and my grandma in my 40s.

Both grandmothers got to meet quite a few great grandchildren.

TapDancingMollusc · 25/04/2015 12:20

I am 46.

My paternal Grandad died on the day I was born. My paternal Nan died when I was 4. I don't remember her at all. :(

Maternal Grandad died when I was 19. Maternal Nanny died when I was 26 (and 7 mos pregnant so everyone told me that I should not go to her funeral - there was no way I would have not gone! ) Love and miss them both so much. I still feel a gap in my life. :(