My only uncle died in December. He was 94 and my mother's youngest brother. He has been my uncle and friend (and godfather) right up to the final days. I myself have been an uncle since I was 5 years old, having had siblings considerably older than I am. I had pretty much forgotten the role of being an uncle until my sister passed away 3 years ago, and then suddenly at her funeral my nieces hugged me and called me Uncle John. That was a sweet reminder.