Yeah, you definitely have to suspend your disbelief a little, but I still get where it's coming from.
Every time I visit my sick grandmother I also start worrying about my parents, as they're not exactly spry themselves.
Experiencing an unexpected loss can you back tripping on things you wish you'd never done, or thing you wish you could've done better.
Death makes people snap back to reality, I don't find that absurd at all. You'd be amazed how many people have similar realizations. Same for births, as well. My grandfather was abusive towards my father and his brothers, so much so that they all left the second they could and went no contact. But when my grandpa learned they were having children, he realized how much he'd screwed up. He asked for a second chance, was given it by 2 of his 3 sons, and was an awesome grandpa to us until his final days.