UPDATED APRIL 27, 2009. My father, the old soldier, age 95, died recently, just as Spring began, and I have come to grips with being an orphan at age 66. It is a funny feeling not to have a parent, and a sad one.

ORIGINAL COMMENT: I haven't experienced this as my father is in his 90's. It will definitely hurt seriously when he is gone.

My dad passed away about 6 hours before he would have turned 90 years old. He had been living on his own for a few years and I visited everynight after work. One night when I arrived, he told me that he needed to go to the hospital and gave me instructions for his funeral. Within a week, he was gone. He left me a ton of money, but his advice is missed much more than any amount of  money could provide. He went when he was ready and was lucid until the end, so while I miss him on a daily basis, I have the utmost respect for the way he handled it all.

I'm with you Irish, it's been 25 years and I still miss him. It never really goes away, we just learn to live with it.

I think this is a hard thing, but it depends on the age that it happens, and also on the relationship between father and child.

Mine died 10 days before I turned 13. Its 37 years and counting and I still feel the pain.