When my dad passed away, it helped me a lot to realize that much of who and what he was, I carry in and with me. It made me feel sort of like he isn't completely gone.
Also, consider doing this: Before my dad died, I bought him a tape recorder and box of tapes, and asked him to record the story of his life and our family's life, starting from his earliest memories. 12 hours of tapes later, he was done. I then later transferred all this onto CDs because they last so much longer than tapes. Some years after he died, I sent copies of these to all my brothers and sisters. They didn't know this existed, and were very, very grateful. Its unnerving to listen to them, now after 12 years since he died, because it sounds like he's right next to me talking to me. Anyway, the CDs are priceless to my family. Also, I set up a video camera in the corner of the room and would zoom in on him and just walk away from the camera while it ran, at birthdays and Christmases. These tapes ( now onto DVD) are also held priceless by the family.
Anyone who has an elderly parent still alive, should consider doing what I've done. It will be priceless to you in the future, when the parent is gone.
Dad in the 1930's...he is the man in the center:
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