A term I stumbled upon searching for a description of the grief I felt this October10th as I was informed of the death of my sister Mary!
Besides the normal heartfelt grief of losing a loved one, somehow an over riding sense of another kind of grief hit me unaware
How do you handle being the last member of your immediate family alive? You are the sole repository for all the memories, the family stories, the private happenings, the legacy, so to speak.
I found that grief counselors call this a disenfranchised grief!! Not recognized as a grief, but none the less a real feeling by many who have had it happen to them!
For those who know our family, Mary and I were the last of 11 siblings in a family that treasured that more than we can ever express. Love for each other was the hallmark of our varied lives and experiences.
So into my hands and heart come the ownership of that treasure. May I do it Justice, May I wrap those memories around me with all the joy that each of us felt in the role we played in it’s making.
Dear Ellen, I am so sorry for your loss! And I’m thankful you can treasure the wealth of memories made with your loved ones. I miss seeing you! Mother is still driving a little and piecing comfort tops for relief. So much to be grateful for! My sympathy and love, Dawn Heatwole Rodes