Hi Lynn and Tom
Very sorry to learn of your loss. The following words by Earnest K. Gann (Airman, Sailor, Author) were a comfort to me in a similar situation.
Gone ?
You are standing upon a shore....somewhere. A ship before you spreads her white sails and starts for the blue ocean.
She is a beautiful and strong ship and you watch her until she hangs Iike a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at your side says, "There . . . well, well. She's gone."
Gone where? From Your sight--- -that's all. She is just as large in mast and spar as when she left your shore, just as strong and able.
Her diminished size is in you, not in her, and while someone at your side is saying, "She’s gone . . ." there are other eyes watching her coming, and ready to take up the glad shout,…..
"There she comes."
Bob Irving