When I see the word family or when I think of the word, my granny Lula is the first person that pops up in my mind.
I totally agree that you can start your own traditions and create your own family structures. That is wonderful. Please take heed to some of the old school ways our grandparents and elders did things or how they managed and handled lots of situations. Cooking your food at home versus eating out all the time is one of the benefits my granny Lula took full advantage of. Some of us are encouraged to implement this into our families.
Yes, you should definitely move forward with your life after your loved ones have transitioned from this world. They would want you to do that! There is everything right about you remembering them if you want to or in however way you want to.
Ms. Lula would have turned 100 years old today.