[...] my best friend passed early in life, from colon cancer. He was Dutch, and leaves behind a wife and child that we consider close-distant family - Spending American Thanksgiving with his wife and his son, who, for all intents and purposes, will be inheriting a nontrivial fortune upon my passing.
my sincere condolences for your loss. its never easy to bury a friend.
looking out for them from now on (to whatever extent you decide) and putting them in your will shows volumes as to your integrity.