Who was the first person you know who died?

[WoundedSpirit]

My first was my maternal grandfather, when I was 13. He had been ill for a long time so it was not unexpected when he passed.

Over the years I lost both my parents, all my grandparents, and all my aunts and uncles. My step-mother is still alive and kicking. My best friend's husband was killed in a car crash.

I am in my 60s now, so people I know and older family members are starting to pass on. I still think of myself as "one of the kids", but actually I am the "old lady" now.

[nurider2002]

My paternal grandmother died when I was 5. My mother died when I was turning 8. My best friend died when I was 16 and, have lost endless other folks every few years throughout my life. That people reach adulthood without losing someone is shocking to me.

[G Grasshopper]

My paternal grandfather died when I was in grade school. But they lived many states away, and I had only seen him once, when I was a toddler, and he really didn't mean anything to me. The first person that I actually knew who died was when I was a sophomore in high school. A guy who was a friend of my sister's and who's parents were friends with my parents died in a terrible, alcohol related car accident. My whole small town was stunned and really shocked. He was a senior in high school, and had been anticipated to be the valedictorian, was very talented, etc. A terrible waste. I'm sure it taught a lot of people about drinking and driving, but it was a hard way to learn the lesson.

[tamiznluv]

In my hs and in my town, the alcohol related accidents didn't teach everyone a lesson, GG. Another 4 kids were killed on the very same telephone pole as the kids I told about in my other post.

Then we had another "death road" a mile away and 7 people I knew were killed on it in the exact same spot too! That road bit my fanny too. Different spot though. Totaled the car by going through a rock wall and up into a tree. Jaws of life had to be used and I had to have plastic surgery on my face to restore it. Still didn't learn. Took another major accident 30 years later and a DUI to teach me, kinda. I still drank but I didn't drive. NOW I have been on the wagon for almost 3 years. My liver made me. Hard cookie I am.

[greatblueheron]

My grandfather died first of anyone I knew well...I was in 8th grade, not old enough to get it, so to speak.

[VTsnowbird]

either a neighbor or my great aunt, at about age 7.

[Ohiogirl81]

Many relatives had died between the time I was born and when my maternal grandfather died, but his was the first death I remember. I was 7; he was 80. My uncle - on the same side of the family - died a few days later.

[censusdata]

Aunt (34) and two cousins (7 and 4) died when I was 6 in a car accident. The previous year she babysat me with her sons most days. I wasn't with them that day because I had the flu. I was just too young to understand exactly what was going on. I vaguely remember the visitation with one adult coffin and two children's coffins, all closed.

[tamiznluv]

Originally Posted by censusdata

Aunt (34) and two cousins (7 and 4) died when I was 6 in a car accident. The previous year she babysat me with her sons most days. I wasn't with them that day because I had the flu. I was just too young to understand exactly what was going on. I vaguely remember the visitation with one adult coffin and two children's coffins, all closed.

Wow, sorry to hear that. It just was not your time, so you had the flu. Tough story.

[chiluvr1228]

My great uncle John died when I was about 10-12. His was the first open casket I saw and it haunts me to this day.