My friend died Tuesday
She stopped by last Thursday evening, the day before my husband and I left for vacation. She had forgotten my grandson's birthday and had a little gift for him. We had a nice short visit, and we planned to get in touch when we got home, so we could meet somewhere the grand kids could play. I got a call Tuesday morning, just before 7 AM, from her fiance, who told me all in a rush, maybe so he wouldn't cry, that she had had a massive heart attack in her sleep and died. I was with both my daughters and their husbands, and our grand kids. My sons-in-law had taken the kids fishing, and my younger daughter was sleeping in. My friend would have been my younger daughter's mother-in-law, but 20 years ago, her son, who would have been my son-in-law, died in a car accident. After time passed, my daughter moved away from her grief and loss, and met the man who would become her husband. But my friend was like a mother-in-law to her and was an anchor in her life. We live in a small town. A long time ago, my friend and my daughter's husband's mother were in the hospital at the same time having their sons. So we were all friends and shared my daughter's life, shared the grand kids, stayed in each other's lives. I had to tell my daughter, and she had to tell her kids. My grand son came from the bedroom and looked at me. "Aunt Ree" is all he said. He is only 6, but he knows he won't see her again. She was only 67, and her passing is so sudden and leaves such a hole, I can't imagine all of us going on without her kindness, confidence, energy. My daughter came home from the beach yesterday to help her family. We came home today so we can go to the funeral tomorrow. My daughter remembered that our friend loved the luminaries at Christmas, so all of our friends got together today and placed luminaries all along the streets in her neighborhood. I didn't get to see it, but I imagine there were hundreds of lights shining in her memory. I lit 1 luminary and put it on my porch when we got home. I want to be a better friend to my friends. We are all busy, with work, family, community, church, neighbors, but after this sad loss of a good friend, I want to make time to see my friends, call them, do something with them. I hope that by writing about my friend Marie, maybe someone else will know that this is the time to be a better friend. None of us know when we'll lose a loved one, and I need to remember that.
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Indeed, sudden death is so shocking.
The luminaries sound like a wonderful tribute to her. They must have been beautiful.
What you wrote is a beautiful testament, sounds like she was really a part of your family. And she was very fortunate to have you - and your close family - as a part of her life, too. 
So very sorry for your loss. Marthe.
No wonder you were shocked. I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry for your Dad's loss.
Mary's fiance told me yesterday that she loved us because we kept her in the family. I said, "But it was Marie who kept us in her family."
I guess that is the wonderful part of a good friendship, both people are grateful for the other 
but my Dad owned a grocery store and we always had a lot of friends. My husband has a very large family, and many of them on both sides have made me feel like part of the gang We also have hosted 6 high school exchange students, and were part of a mentor program for international students at Marietta College. I always wanted to be a good friend to my friends. If I didn't love them with my whole heart, why be friends? I think of the poem ...'every man's death diminishes me...'
I love Facebook, because I have been able to get back in touch with some high school and college friends, and we just picked up where we left off.
Thank you for your perspective.