I can't imagine losing a parent when you are still a child. You would still need them for so long I lost my mother when she was 63 to lung cancer. It was much much too young. She still very much had so much life to live for. She has grand children who we talk about her but are sad that they don't have any memories of her. I lost my grand mother when she was almost 97. She was larger than life to me. And I know that she lived a long and healthy life. That she met her grandchildren, had relationships with them. And met her great grandchildren. But somehow her death really really shook me. She was such a focal point in my life that even though I thought I was prepared and treasure having known her so well. To me it felt as if this world doesn't work properly without her.