On Death

A distant relative passed away today. He was old. People said his time had come and he went peacefully. He is survived by his wife. They didn't have children; only a cat called Bundle who lived to the ripe old age of 16 and passed away a few years ago. 

In our society, we take so much for granted, we complain about family, annoying relatives and people encroaching on our privacy but this support system is our safety net. Usually, when one parent passes away, the surviving spouse goes to live with their son (or some other family member, depending on the situation). But what happens when there are no children? No siblings? No one? 

After the first few days of mourning, everyone goes back to their daily routine and the one left behind is left to pick up the pieces and await his/her own death. Remarriage for widows (beyond a certain age) is usually looked down upon and a single woman living on her own is considered taboo. What to do?