My question is this...

The father just died,
the mother is alive, but 58 years old,
one child is at college,
one child is 12 years old

When the father died I was given the chance to start the new generation. I did not choose it yet, because what would happen to the 12 year old. What happens to the child when the mother dies? I have never had a person make it past 60 and the kid is 6 years from college.

Thanks.

Oh dear, I found it so sad when that happened. But my kid was 16 and he inherited enough money from his parents to get by till college. I was so mad at his older brother for not helping out.
But 12? This is so sad. If you've got enough money, the child could make it into college without being too depressed. You could always go for the next generation button in the Family tab. It's a difficult choice though. Why not wait and see what happens?
The Orphan thread

There's a very good discussion about that situation here, too.

Thanks.