I too have lost both my parents as has my husband. Actually he had a "head start" on being parentless because as an infant his father left his mother with newborn twin baby boys. When my husband's Mom died ten years ago it seemed to have hit him harder than my "dual losses" with both my parents. He had never known a father so had been receiving all his parenting from his Mom.

Each of us certainly do grieve differently - it's what makes us unique...pain is pain and loss is loss but grief is unique.

I have never felt like an orphan....I like the term "parentless child" that you used Kathryn. [Wink]