Coping with the loss of a beloved grandparent

Grandparents often serve as the emotional fulcrum of the family, and can have as much impact on the kids as the parents do. — Martina Ferrari/Westend61/dpa

Stephan Sigg’s grandmother was a central and inspirational figure in his life. As a child, he loved to spend time with her and tramp together around the countryside.

Visiting his grandmother, he writes, was like a trip to another country, even though she lived a mere 20-minute drive from his family home in the Swiss canton of St Gallen. With her, he felt like a protagonist in an adventure story.