A Sibling's Point of View
Being a HC film of course the theme is romance, though I did not realize until another poster mentioned it that this is based on a true story, so that does cast a different light on the story (or at least posters should keep that in mind).
My own sister passed away from cancer 6 days before Christmas, 2006, so the similarities are troubling or even upsetting, but in my brother in-law's case his 4 children, all teens or young adults at the time, were ready as much as they possibly could be, but I'll never forget their wailing when my sister was pronounced that evening at the hospital.
Unlike the film, my brother-in-law has been very set against meeting anyone else, to the point that he will not speak about the topic, and I respect him for that, as do his children, though other widowers I've known were eager or willing to fill the void, sometimes as quickly as possible, and sometimes to the unfair mixed emotions of people that know them.
My sister, being a Christian woman, was a Eucharistic Minister at her Catholic parish (yes, women do have a very active part in the Church, contrary to what the biased news media often say), and I miss the many discussions about God and the Holy Family that we had on the phone - my sister always believed the best place to evangelize was on line at the supermarket : )
My sister's grown children have adjusted to life without their mother as best they can, but 2 weddings and 2 newborns have come without their Mother being present (and 2 more kids on the way), but her Christian guidance was a bedrock for the family that is no longer there, and as their Uncle all I can do is do what I pledged to do when my sister went home - which is to use some of my sister's ways of reminding her grown children and others of her love for God, and my own health problems have ironically given me that opportunity over the past 3 years, especially when at the doctor : )
So, as the film shows, being loving, supportive parents is what children need - they do not care about the material when their Mom or Dad or both parents are suddenly taken from them, and they will tell you that every time - not only at the graveside, but for the rest of their own lives.
Florida2