10th Anniversary of family friend's passing coming up
I was recently reminded of the passing of a family friend. My parents had known them before we all immigrated to Canada, back in Hong Kong, when they worked in the same field of career. When both of our families moved here, we stayed in touch frequently. Always held Christmas parties at their house, along with another family. Over the summers, when we were all still kids, we often had BBQs at their place and my brother and I even had sleepovers. That family friend, has 3 siblings, the eldest, a daughter.
She ended up getting a rare form of leukemia, went through treatment and even was doing better, had a fiance and was planning to get married, but when it returned a second time; her body couldn't take it, and passed away on Valentine's day in 2014. I've been thinking about her lately. She was only in their late 30s. A couple of weeks ago, my parents bumped into her parents at a coffee shop, and we officially invited them over to our place for a BBQ. It has been confirmed when my brother asked one of their other sons of the date. The first weekend of August, is when they'll be coming. Come to think of it, my family didn't even attend her funeral, but they were close friends of us.
I feel that I haven't really had the chance to grieve for her, and yet, I'm afraid to ask if I could pay her a visit. Within this past decade, there had been others who passed away from illnesses. None of which I had gone through with a phase of grieving, all I can do is have a heavy heart and feel that another hole has been dug in my heart. It's saddening.
It also creates a fear within me.
@Jaeteuk I'm really sorry to hear about the passing of your family friend. It sounds like you had a deep and meaningful connection with her and her family. Grieving is a natural process, and it's understandable that you may not have had the chance to properly grieve for her, given the circumstances.
If you feel the need to pay her a visit to find closure and pay your respects, it's okay to express that to her family when they come over for the BBQ. Let them know that you've been thinking about her and that you'd like to remember her in your own way.
Loss can indeed be difficult, and it's okay to feel sadness and fear in these situations. Remember that it's important to take the time you need to process your emotions and seek support from friends and family if you feel comfortable doing so.
If you need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out. Take care.