MOTHERFUCKINGMORTALITY !!!!!!

this may be beyond the scope of 'off topic', but any comments will be appreciated.
it's been on my mind for some time now, I'm about to hit my mid-thirties. it's not my own demise that brings this on, but of those close to me.
I just got word from my father (mid-70s) that he just spent a few days in ER going over some heart issues. he's the most important person in the world to me, and it's a good deal more than I can handle.
my best friend lost both of his parents in recent years, and since then I can't get the idea out of my mind. if I didn't have children of my own, I would gladly take my own life before I had to endure the loss of my father.
surely (and sadly) there must be others in this fine community that have gone through the loss of a close loved one. how in the (heck) does one carry on?

sorry for the sappy-esque and bad language.