Eventhough you can’t be there with him during this difficult time, you will be there for him afterwards. The grieving process takes time and has its ebbs and flows. Sometimes you want to cry, sometimes you feel angry, sometimes lost, but the worst thing is to be ignored. I have lost most of my immediate family over the years and I can tell you that the best thing I received was normalcy from my friends and family - no stepping on eggshells and fumbling for words. Alot of people do not know what to say so they stay away from you during those tough times. I was fortunate to have loving friends who kept me occupied during the tough months afterwards and most importantly, they listened to me and gave me space when I needed it. They allowed me time to grieve, and did not set any time limits on when I should get “on with life”. Some people never really get through the grieving process, but they learn to cope with the loss and move forward. He knows you are there for him - and ready to listen when he needs to talk about the loss.