They don't need to know the gory details, but it's important to grow up knowing basic facts of life. My dad died when I was young (youngest sibling was only 13), and we weren't destroyed by it because we knew that people die. It's not some big secret. Treat it like it is, and you end up with very confused young people who feel the need to explain it or blame it on someone.



I would feel like an ass too, but I think that sometimes someone coming from that position can make a better impact-- you don't want to speak your mind on it because that's not what you do, but you feel it's necessary this time.