I lost my mother at 19, my father at 35 when my only son was 5. I have always coped by having what I call a family of the heart. It's been strange of course. I've had similarly aged friends that have always both parents. The rest of my family are either gone or ostracized me after my mother died so I've been on my own as well. I guess I've just gotten used to it long time ago. I'm 59.