Greetings.

I decided I would reply to this one after all. This topic is a little too close to home (ugh, bad pun) for me. My father died six years ago, my mother died just under one year ago. Both were young, in their sixties.

Sometimes, if the person had been sick for a while, it is almost a relief for them. There is no more pain or sickness. Sometimes it can happen quite quickly, and you do not expect it.

Either way, my only advice is to live every day so that you have no regrets or bitterness should something happen. Do what you can, now, while you both can appreciate it. Spend time together. Talk. Do things. And it never hurts to tell them how much you love them. This way, when the inevitable does happen, you can take some (hollow at the time, granted) comfort that you did everything you could and that you have no regrets. Over time, the memories you build will stay with you, even when the hurt and loss starts to fade.

The same applies for parents, children, spouses, significant others, anyone you care about.