My husband lost his best friend a couple of weeks ago, from a sudden heart attack. He left, among others, a 17 year old special needs son. My husband had already established a uncle/nephew relationship with the boy, in the American Indian way. He has now promised him he would be like a father to him, but, of course, there’s no way to completely fill those shoes.
No, but it helps a lot when it does happen.
Your husband willl do the best he can. Won’t be perfect but he’ll help a lot, perhaps even better in some ways. That’s just the way life works.
My dad died decades ago and I still miss him, think of him every day. Feel privileged to be his daughter.