Well, my t's mother died when he was six years old, but she's been "present" for various reasons since i started seeing him. One, just because he was willing to disclose publicly that her passing was the reason he became a t. I dont even know her, but she still has meaning for my t, and for my therapy. Its like history, whats in the timeline of your life - its not a matter of believing in an afterlife, imo.