I Got the Call… and Had to Tell My Family My Dad Died Suddenly | Dead Dads Podcast | Grief Support for Men

John Abreu’s dad died suddenly.There was no will. No clear plan. No neat folder marked “open this when I’m gone,” which would have been nice. Instead, John had to tell his family, make decisions, deal with logistics, and process the fact that his dad was dead at the same time.In this episode of Dead Dads, John shares what it is like to lose a father when nothing is prepared.We talk about the call, the shock, the first few days, and what happens when funeral planning, paperwork, estate questions, and family responsibility show up before your brain has caught up.John also talks about the pressure to be “the strong one.” The guy who stays calm. The guy who tells everyone else. The guy who handles it.That role can land fast.And it can get heavy.This is also a practical conversation about father loss, estate planning mistakes, what happens when there is no will, and why the unfinished conversations with your dad can stay with you longer than you expect.If you are dealing with the loss of a father, supporting someone who is, or trying to prepare your own family so they are not left guessing one day, this episode is for you.🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear about:What it is like to get the call that your dad diedHow to tell your family someone has diedWhat the first few days after losing your dad can actually look likeWhat happens when there is no will or estate planHow to make decisions when nothing feels clearWhy men often feel pressure to be “the strong one” after lossHow unfinished conversations with your dad can stay with youWhy grief can show up later in parentingWhat you can do now so your family is not left guessingHow to think about grief, responsibility, and legacy after your dad dies👨‍👦 About John and his dadJohn Abreu grew up between Venezuela and Canada.His father, John Abreu Sr., was a mathematician who believed in discipline, hard work, and being there for his family. He pushed John to think more deeply and expect more from himself, even when John did not fully understand it at the time.In 2022, John’s dad died suddenly with no plan and no will. John had to tell his family and handle what came next.Now he is focused on carrying forward what mattered, while being more open and proactive so the people around him are not left guessing.It is a conversation about father loss, sudden death, grief support for men, estate planning, family responsibility, parenting, and the pressure many men feel to hold everything together after their dad dies.Also, yes, there are laughs. Because grief is weird like that. Rude, honestly.⏱️ Episode chapters0:00 – Why Small Moments Hit Hardest0:23 – What This Podcast Is1:02 – Why Talking About Losing Your Dad Matters2:42 – What You Carry From Your Dad6:01 – The One Sentence That Sticks7:24 – What You Might Do Differently8:53 – What It’s Like to Get the Call12:09 – How to Tell Your Family Someone Died13:47 – When Responsibility Lands on You16:27 – What the First Few Days Look Like17:38 – What Happens Without a Will19:17 – How to Make Decisions Without Clear Answers20:14 – What “Doing It Right” Means21:58 – How to Honor Someone So It Lasts23:59 – How Grief Changes Over Time25:45 – How Losing Your Dad Shows Up in Parenting28:24 – The Questions You’ll Wish You Asked31:50 – What You Can Do Now to Prepare33:21 – What Grief Sounds Like Years Later🖤 About Dead DadsDead Dads is a podcast for men figuring out life after losing their dad. Hosted by Roger Nairn and Scott Cunningham, the show features honest conversations about father loss, grief, identity, family, memory, masculinity, and all the strange stuff that happens after your dad dies. No grief brochure voice. No tidy healing arc. Just real conversations for guys who are grieving, remembering, avoiding, laughing, carrying on, or trying to understand what losing a father did to them.You’re not alone.☕ If Dead Dads has helped you feel a little less alone, consider buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deaddadspodcastFollow Dead Dads:Website: https://www.deaddadspodcast.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deaddadspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/deaddadspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.dads.podcastSubstack: https://substack.com/@deaddadspodcastAnd listen to us here, or wherever you enjoy podcasts:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WWlXBPzgj151SFYRUZeSB?si=fe005fdf079249b8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dead-dads-podcast-grief-support-for-men/id1867632438New episodes every week.Dead Dads Podcast is produced with the support of JAR Podcast Solutions, the branded podcast agency that helps organizations build shows people actually want to spend time with. Learn more at https://jarpodcasts.com/