Two weeks ago I wrote an article about friends. Little did I know that I would visit with my friends – my two best friends – shortly thereafter and try, as best I could, to console and comfort them. The news came on April 9.

For one friend, the death of his mother was not entirely unexpected. She was approaching 94, still strong of heart and will, but diminished in spirit by the death of her older sister, nearing 96, with whom she had lived for the past decade, and who had passed away only one month before. But no matter what the timing or circumstances, the death of a matriarch is never easy, and I know my friend and his family felt great sadness at her passing.

On the same day I learned about the one death, I learned about the other. I was reading a book and drinking coffee when the phone rang. “Hello, Jim, I have some very bad news,” went the voice. My immediate thought was that the friend to whom I had been talking only the night before had suffered a heart attack. It turned out to be even more shocking.

“Their daughter is dead. They don’t know the cause, but they gave me a list of people to call right away. I expect there will be more information shortly about what happened and the arrangements,” she continued.

There was, but none of it providing a satisfactory reason for why a beautiful, young life – she was 36 – should be snuffed out so abruptly. My friend and his wife are deeply religious, as are his four surviving children, and I believe that that has provided them with some solace at this time.

But I’m also certain that the loss they experienced will always be with them and the grief remain. How could it not?

At the same time, this wonderful family will gather strength from the loving embrace of one another and, I’m equally certain, from the steadfast friendship of all those who hold them so dear.