There is definitely something to the concept of loss or change makes the present all the more powerful.

I tend to react to loss with memories that uplift instead. I wrote a bit ago about the concept of a Speaker for the Dead, you should consider reading those books. They are the sequels and the actual story behind, Ender's Game . They have such an amazing look on funerals and mourning, as well as what life means, etc. They are also some really good science-fiction, despite some of the metaphysics going on.

Great read here either way. Looking forward to more.