The loss of a parent is a milestone transition in anyone’s life. When my mom died on September 10, 2011 at the age of 88, it was a sudden, heartbreaking loss. I didn’t have much time to grieve, though, because my dad, who suffered from dementia and could not survive on his own, needed me to be 100% for him. My dad left us on July 13, 2013, aged 93. His loss was expected; even so, it was, and continues to be, one of the most difficult transitions in my life. Losing your last parent is different somehow. It means you are really on your own now–the anchor you’ve had your whole life to that point is gone from this world forever.
This can be a hard loss to come to terms with–to let go of the past and what was, live today as it is, and face the future and what will be. If you are struggling with this loss, you are not alone.
I was raised in the Christian faith and believe that I will see my mom and dad again, this time without the pain and losses they endured as they aged. This doesn’t mean I miss them any less, but it is a comfort to know they are in a better place now.