Celebrations that are culturally or religiously significant to us often start in childhood and are forever associated with our loved ones. At Christmas, for instance, when people come together, the absence of friends or family can be more keenly felt. Although this is my first Christmas without her I feel only my Dad and Sister are sensitive to that. You go through a stage of shock, where you try to come to terms with the fact that person is not coming back.

He was her first grandchild and she so wanted to be a gran, it breaks my heart he won’t remember her.His passion from childhood, however, was flying: he got his pilot’s licence at Biggin Hill when he was 20, and flew small planes and gliders for years. It will always be sad and tragic, but the more you bring the person you lost into Christmas, the easier it gets over time. Finance is provided by PayPal Credit (a trading name of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH). I do try and appreciate it as a close bereavement makes you realise what you have and how short life is.

com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsy’s global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Read more about the condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened and undamaged item in original retail packaging (where packaging is applicable).This special Christmas item is not only a lovely Memorial but is a tea light candle holder, so you can light a memory candle for your loved one that is no longer there for Christmas. I’ve just done xmas with the in laws who are thankfully going away (and are very disappointed that I’m not up for the big family jolly holiday so their grandchildren aren’t coming). Nothing replaces a hug but hear the words your mum would say to you and that will help get you through. She was very clearly the glue that held the family together and without her we’ve all stopped bothering. Every family dynamic is unique and every person in that family has a special role that will never be completely duplicated.