The loss of a friend, a sibling, even a beloved family pet can generate deep mourning. Death can devastate survivors even when the loved one was very old and very ill. And while some older people gain strength from dealing with repeated losses, others feel battered. The elderly approach the challenges of later life with the resources they've built up throughout their lives. Personality, ethnic traditions, gender roles and religious beliefs all shape the way a person handles the passing of family and friends.
Most experts say a person's religious beliefs can be the strongest aid in a time of grief.
But for the last 10 years, as Bill Stewart had struggled with heart problems, Jean Stewart had felt he was preparing to leave. She nearly panicked when she realized she must take over the financial management that Bill, an accountant, had done so meticulously. She'd find herself in tears at the silliest times, in the checkout line at Wal-Mart or watching Bob Hope and his wife finish each other's sentences in a TV interview. Bill had been fun. He'd always had a joke, even in the strangest situations.