Is anyone else spending their first Christmas without a loved one?

[starrzone]

My Grammie passed away in May, a week before Mother's Day. She was very much the matriarch of my Dad's side of the family; she is the oldest of 7 children and is only 1 of 2 of them still alive. My father has 4 brothers, and our family gatherings were always boisterous, busy and full of laughter. My Grammie did NOT have an easy life (financially and otherwise), and we were all so glad to be able to spoil her during the holidays.

It's going to be so very different this year without her. A lot of us used to go over to her farmhouse on Christmas Day, and it's very sad to me to think of her living room sitting cold and empty this year, devoid of a tree, decorations and laughter. I know that she was sick and that her time on earth was up, but it doesn't really make it any easier.

Thanks for listening. It made me feel better just to type that all out...

 

[Froggyswife]

My Dad died in July. Missing him alot.

 

[scrapquitler]

I can relate, my dad passed away in June. Thanksgiving was really tough for all of us, and I think Christmas will be even harder.

 

[nutterbutter2010]

No deaths, but my sister has decided to stop talking to the family. Well, she decided to stop talking to our parents, and it seems that includes me as well.... not quite sure why.... So she missed Thanksgiving, won't be around for Christmas, and is missing our family Disney vacation.

 

[Pikester]

My Beana (Grandmother) died in August. We usually spent Christmas Eve at her house and I always called her on Christmas Day to say Merry Christmas. She never told me how sick she was and I didn't expect her to leave us this soon.

 

[jx3smom]

My dad passed away a year ago Dec. 5, this year is harder than last for some reason. My MIL passed away suddenly at the age of 67 on June 9 and I am battling breast cancer-tough Christmas this year.

 

[diesel]

My MIL passed away on March 27th, Grandmother passed away May 6 and my father passed away May 17. It's been a rough year. Thanksgiving was tough so I can't even imagine how tough Christmas is going to be.

 

[fluffycow333]

Yes, my grandfather on my mom's side. We all called him Giga. He passed away this summer of lung cancer.

 

[MerMom60_94]

My DFIL passed away in February. Last year, the week before Christmas, he showed our DD how to make a homemade wreath. It was such a warm memory of him so this past weekend we all spent the day with DMIL and put up her tree and let the little ones bake cookies and DD made a wreath just like her Grandpa showed her. She also made swags for his grave and my father's grave (DF passed away last year). We miss both fathers but focus on our happy memories of them and keep them close in our hearts.

to all of you who have lost people who were dear to you.

 

[DisneyFanInPA]

My great-grandma passed away in May. She was 103 years old, but had been in really good health until the last few months. I have been missing her quite a bit recently and it will be hard not seeing her at Christmas this year. to everyone else that is missing someone too.

 

[Pixiedust34]

My MIL passed away this week one year ago. Because her passing was immediately before Christmas, the emotions were still very raw during last Christmas. Her funeral was the weekend before Christmas. The pain is no longer as raw now and it feels like this is the first Christmas without her, if that makes sense.

My thoughts and prayers are with those missing loved ones over the holidays.

 

[Heidict]

My sister died in September so I haven't really been much in the Christmas spirit this year. Hopefully, come Christmas morning, with a 3 year old ripping open packages I will be in a better mood about it all.

 

[TaraPA]

starrzone - hang in there. This will be a tough holiday for you, but it does get better. I was very close to both of my grandparents, and they died the same year, one in June, one in August. Christmas that year was brutal, everyone was crying, we could barely talk about them, it hurt too much. I had tears in my eyes & a lump in my throat all day when that side of the family got together. There was such an empty feeling that holiday. What's that saying - something about the elephant in the room - we just couldn't talk about them without getting everyone upset. The next year there were just a few tears - but they were different tears. Yes tears of sadness, but yet we could talk about them & remember the good times. It's been 4 years now, and I expect no tears this holiday. We can now all talk about them, rejoice in the blessings they gave us, and remember the fun times we all had. You will get to that point too!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I lost my cousin Matt in January. This month is doubly hard for the family...not only is it our first Christmas without him, but his 33rd birthday would have been this Wednesday, the 16th

 

[clovergirl5]

to everyone who is missing someone this holiday season.

Dh lost his mom and dad this past spring and summer. He was by his moms side when she died of a heart attack in the hospital in April. His dad died of a heartattack in June. They were 80 and 86 and married for 65 years. Dh seems to be doing well, but I know he is having a hard time. His parents were married for a long time and we all knew that his dad wouldn't last very long after his mom passed away...only 2 months he lasted That was true love

 

[LBAK]

My Dad passed away in Oct. of a heart attack, he lived with us. It's going to be very sad for me and my girls.

 

[MidgeD79]

We buried my Dad today. He died 13 days after being diagnosed with lung cancer. It's hard to get into the spirit of Christmas.

 

[starrzone]

to everyone who is missing someone this holiday season.

Dh lost his mom and dad this past spring and summer. He was by his moms side when she died of a heart attack in the hospital in April. His dad died of a heartattack in June. They were 80 and 86 and married for 65 years. Dh seems to be doing well, but I know he is having a hard time. His parents were married for a long time and we all knew that his dad wouldn't last very long after his mom passed away...only 2 months he lasted That was true love

The same sort of thing happened with my grandmother and her 2nd husband; he died in October and she was gone by May. Her very good friend also passed away not long after her husband, and I think it was too much for her all at once. She has never really had any serious health problems other than osteoporosis (plus she had a hip replacement), but she WAS nearly 90.

We always used to say it was neat that she had not one, but TWO 25th anniversaries! Her 1st husband (my grandfather) died after they had been married for 28 years, and she and her 2nd husband had just celebrated their 28th anniversary when he passed away.

 

[Rosered]

Lost my dad August 31.

 

[clovergirl5]

My dad passed away a year ago Dec. 5, this year is harder than last for some reason. My MIL passed away suddenly at the age of 67 on June 9 and I am battling breast cancer-tough Christmas this year.