I was abit stunned a few wks. ago, the guy who sits just across me in his work cubicle told me about his mother's last few months after she was diagnosed with leukemia before she died earlier last year.

He knew my sister had died just as a few employees also knew before I started with this new employer....the death caused me to request for change to delay work start date because I greatly needed time and space.

We spent lunch hr. in earshot of several other employees, talking about his mother at our desks. He told me how his family didn't hug, etc....I mean this is a guy who is merely a distant work acquaintance.

Best to describe "closeness" with my sister: she was 1 yr. younger than I. Therefore we shared the unintended position of elder siblings to look after younger ones, plus other things.