problems with feeling

one of my students just emailed me to say that their dad died on Monday, and they may not be able to make the class on tuesday! I told them not to come in anyway (unless they want to) but I have realised how young she is to be losing her parents, and how much this will effect her. No dad to walk down the ailse with, she wont have him there when she graduates. this is really sad, and I suppose that at the moment all this wont have sunk in for her. as her lecturer, i guess i can only be there is she needs to chat, and try to be supportive. poor thing, it puts my minor issues in perspective and is a bit of a reality check all round.