What age were you when your parents' generation started passing away? (move, marriage)

[Lodestar]

One spring in our late forties we had eleven funerals to attend between January and May. I called my mom and told her I was puzzled and saddened by the number of people in our lives who were dying. "We used to go to graduations and weddings and baby showers and now it only seems like we go to funerals." She said, "It's your age."

It should have been obvious but suddenly we were introduced to a new aspect of middle-age.

[Submariner]

My parents were about 5 years apart in their ages. They both passed away when I was in my early 50s.

[phonelady61]

yes you know you are getting older when you go to more funerals than you do weddings .I was like 5 or 6 when my moms side of the family started dying . Her side had kids late in life and there kids were still young when they started dying off too . My dads side of the family are in their late 80s early 90s dad died of lung cancer when he was in his 60s and I miss him terribly . most of his siblings are still alive but in very bad shape and are in nursing homes . One of dads oldest sisters has alzheimers and she does not know or even realize that dad has died .

[ncole1]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

A high school friend of mine posted on Facebook that his mother passed away this week. We're 32/33. His father passed a year or so. I knew his dad was older (mid-70s), but his mom was older as well (69). She looked much younger than that - I'd have assumed early-mid 50s. It didn't say what happened other than she was surrounded by family and went to be with the Lord.

Every so often, I'll hear about a high school friend's parent passing. Ten years ago, I rarely heard anything like that. We're in our early 30s now. Many of our parents are in their 60s and beyond.

When did you first start noticing your parents' generation falling off?

I lost an uncle at 21, but no one since then, I am 31 now.

[jasper1372]

I've listed the age they died, and the age I was at that time.

Dads side of the family:
Mom, age 94 - I was 53
Dad, age 87, I was 40
Uncle, age 81 - I was 31
Aunt, age 65, I was 25
Aunt, age 99 - I was - 51

Mom's side of the family is a little more difficult since they are spread out and since she was adopted, I've lost track of some of them, but there were 10 of them and most lived pretty long lives and a few of the younger ones are still alive. I've listed the ones I know of who have died and listed their age at death and my age at that time.

Uncle, age 97 - I was 56 (He was an incredibly healthy and active man well into his 90's).
Aunt, age 85 - I was 42
Uncle, age 75 - I was 47
Aunt, age 75 - I was 41
Aunt, age 87 - I was 49
Aunt, age 88 - I was 43

[madrone2k]

Both of my parents died at 86, but my mom preceded my dad by 2 years (she was 2 years older). She made a quick exit (good for her), but my dad suffered the loss for 2 more years. That was tough to watch. And ... watching that affected me; I realize now that I'm not immortal :-)

However, there are many different personal stories out there. I had colleagues die of liver or brain cancer at younger ages. OTOH, my best friend's mom lived to 102 and volunteered at an "old folks" home in her 80s, helping people younger than her. A friend and neighbor is in his 90s and still works and enjoys life. So ... there are many possibilities.

[ChessieMom]

I'm 62. My parents are still alive at 87 and 92.

[Curmudgeon]

Although there were some earlier deaths, the bulk began when I was about 43. Now I'm a couple of months shy of 72 and the family patriarch. My wife died about a year ago at age 68 and it's likely I'll be the next to go.

[ItIsWritten.]

age 49. now we have almost no one except our 27 yr old son. should've had more kids. very lonely

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

I've listed the age they died, and the age I was at that time.

Dads side of the family:
Mom, age 94 - I was 53
Dad, age 87, I was 40
Uncle, age 81 - I was 31
Aunt, age 65, I was 25
Aunt, age 99 - I was - 51

Mom's side of the family is a little more difficult since they are spread out and since she was adopted, I've lost track of some of them, but there were 10 of them and most lived pretty long lives and a few of the younger ones are still alive. I've listed the ones I know of who have died and listed their age at death and my age at that time.

Uncle, age 97 - I was 56 (He was an incredibly healthy and active man well into his 90's).
Aunt, age 85 - I was 42
Uncle, age 75 - I was 47
Aunt, age 75 - I was 41
Aunt, age 87 - I was 49
Aunt, age 88 - I was 43

Congratulations on a good pick of relatives.

Both my Dad and Mom came from rather large families.

My Mom's side, many uncles died while I was in my late 30's to early 50's - almost to a man, they were beer drinkers and cigarette smokers, to the tune of a case a day and a pack a day, mostly. While they were interesting and quite intelligent guys, they avoided any sort of aerobic exercise like plague. So I don't think a one of them saw 70 years old. My Mom's sisters, one died of some sort of brain tumor when I was quite young, like about 30, but most of the girls lived longer, most of them passing while I was in my 50's. Most of them smoked, but not as heavily, and didn't drink beer like it was a 5th food group.

On my Dad's side, having better living habits, they lasted well into their late 70's to mid 80's. One of my Dad's brothers and one of his sisters are still alive. The sister must be pushing 90. Dad's youngest sister died several years before him, when I was roughly 50.

Dad passed when I was about 55, Mom when I was about 60. They both lasted till about 84, Dad being 5 years older than Mom.

I guess, yeah, this just comes with the territory of being around 60 years old. Unless your parents were about 12 when you were born, they are reaching the natural end of the road, not much you can do about it.