I understand what you mean about the need for family members to tell each other how much they care. I come from a similar family to yours in many ways; we also have that same problem. And I just lost my uncle a couple of days back – I used to be close to him when I was young, but in more recent years we drifted apart for reasons related to bad family politics. In the end, he died from the cancer that was eating him away from the inside, and he simply didn't want to suffer anymore. I respect that choice. He went out on his own terms, the way that he chose.