I might want to forget the mental images of the event that took their life, but I certainly wouldn't want to lose my (good memories) of the person in question.

I have lost my mother who was very near and dear to my heart.  Erase her from my memory?  Never! 

No. I have lost both parents, a close cousin and several friends. Erasing them from my mind is the last thing I want to do.

is awful to loose someone close to you. i lost my 5 year old cousin and everyday i wish i could see him again and sometimes i pray that god will take my life so i can just forget about it ever happening. i am thankful that i had the oppertunity to get to know him even if it was a short time. i love him and miss him. it was an accedent that never should have happened.

I have been lucky to this day to not loes a love one.

I have to agree with Jed1000 and kamylienne, my Mother died when I was 5 and the memories I have of her are few. I wish I could have had more time to develop more cherished memories. I wish she was still alive, I miss her.

The opposite is true, actually. I wish I could remember more things about the people I've lost.

I've been fortunate; not that many people who I've been close to has passed away. The few that have, though, I would never want to forget. It hurts that they're gone, but I'm glad that I've known them for the short time that I have.

While it may be difficult to cope with the emotional burden of losing a beloved family member, it is important to embrace the good memories of that person to help relieve the grief. As they say, it is better to have loved than to have never loved at all (better to remember, even if it brings some pain, than to lose altogether. The pain eventually subsides and the happy memories will persist).

Not at all! I had an aunt who passed away a few years ago, and I think about her quite a bit of the time. I always remember the good times. I remember her saying a lot of things that made people laugh, and she was a great Christian lady who was always studying the Bible. I miss her, but I'll see her again, someday. In Heaven.