# Dear Abby: Friends skip mom's memorial > A reader feels abandoned after friends skip mother's memorial. - Title: Dear Abby: Friends skip mom's memorial · Chicago Sun-Times - Summary: A reader feels abandoned after friends skip mother's memorial. A person who attended many friends' events but had few respond to their mother's memorial… - Keywords: dear abby, memorial, friends, mother, resignation, friendship, guilt, resilience, news, local, Dear, Abby - Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/dear-abby/2026/09/22/dearabby-today-dear-abby-moms-passing-triggers-reevaluation-of-friendships - Published: 2026-09-22T11:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: dear abby, memorial, friends, mother, resignation, friendship, guilt, resilience, news, local ## Dear Abby: Friends skip mom's memorial A reader feels abandoned after friends skip mother's memorial. > Dear Abby: I attend friends' events, but many skipped my mother's memorial ## Mother's death triggers resentment A reader shares how friends skipped their mother's memorial despite attending many friends' events. > My mom died of extreme old age recently. She was a sweet woman everyone loved. ## Friends give excuses for absence Friends cite soccer games and birthday parties as reasons for skipping the memorial. > Excuses for not attending Mom’s memorial included going to a grandkid’s soccer game and attending a 2-year-old’s birthday party. ## Reader feels isolated The reader feels resentment over being the last to achieve milestones and having few reciprocations. > I was the last to graduate, get a career job, start a relationship, buy a house, be married and so forth. ## Spouse suggests focus on relationship The reader's spouse advises focusing on their relationship rather than friends. > My spouse says I shouldn’t stress and that all we need is each other (said by someone who has a huge, loving family whereas my family is just me and my dad). ## Reader seeks support The reader asks for help dealing with feelings of resentment and abandonment. > How do I deal with my feelings of resentment, abandonment and being a low priority? ## Dear Abby responds Dear Abby advises the reader to be grateful for their core support group and view others as acquaintances. > In the final analysis, all you need is each other, though a few supportive friends would certainly be welcome. ## Reader's guilt about moving A reader feels guilt about moving out after roommates' cooking affects their health. > I would like to move out into a studio of my own. The lease on this apartment is currently a month-to-month, so the only thing keeping me here is the guilt I feel about burdening my roommates with this. ## Roommates' cooking problem Roommates' cooking produces strong smells that the reader cannot tolerate due to medication. > Their cooking produces extremely strong smells that I cannot tolerate. My medication causes hypersensitivity to odors, and I can no longer stand to be in the kitchen because the smells linger. ## Reader's health concerns The reader's diet and sleep are suffering due to roommates' cooking schedule. > They also live on a very different schedule from me. As a result, my diet and sleep are both suffering. ## Reader's plan to move The reader plans to move to a studio to prioritize their health. > I want to do right by them, but I know it would be best for me to leave. ## Dear Abby's advice Dear Abby advises the reader to explain the problem and consider moving to a smaller place. > There is no reason why you should feel guilty for leveling with this couple; your health must come first. ## Key takeaway A person who attended many friends' events but had few respond to their mother's memorial feels resentment over being overlooked.