My favorite neice's son killed himself this year. He was an only child and much loved. Just this week I reached out to her via email with "chit chat" and, of coure, including the fact that I love her. She is in her early fifties and extremely bright and caring. They had no memorial service. Her siblings were allowed to visit at their house but neither she nor her husband opened up or showed their grief. Evidently they are "going on" with their life but internalizing all their pain. How I wish that she had found a support group for suicide survivors as that seems like the only way one would be free to work through that type of devestating loss. She told me in her response that when she is not working she gets in her car, plays his favorite CD's and just drives in random directions until she's ready to return home.
How sad is that? He had difficult years of bullying etc. as a kid but was a young adult holding down a job and acting, at least, like all was well. She was a wonderful loving advocate for him but I'm sure she is full of unwarranted guilt.
I can't tell you how deeply saddened I am for surviving parents. DDD