mourning has broken...

We were talking about in class what Masha means when she says, “I am in mourning for my life.” I did some research on what it was like when someone died and what the funerals were like.
Funerals in Russia are not only a time for mourning but a period of elaborate food and drink rituals. In the Russian Orthodox tradition, the day of death, the day of the funeral, and the 3rd, 9th, and 40th days after death are all considered days of mourning. In addition, several Parents' Days are assigned by the church throughout the year to remember the dead. On all of these days it is customary to visit the graves and leaves some food on the grave as a symbolic offering to the loved ones.
On the day of the funeral the family prepares and serves a special dish: sweet kasha made with wheat or rice. Grain symbolizes eternal life, and sweetness symbolizes heavenly peace. After the funeral, family and close friends gather at home for the funeral banquet. A table setting is prepared for the deceased person and a chair is left empty in memory of the departed. People talk about the life and good deeds of the deceased and drink to his or her memory and for the peace of their soul. A similar banquet is repeated on the 40th day of death.
When in mourning you were expected to wear all black.
It seems that a funeral is a laundry list. The same steps were expected to happen every time a person passed away. They have special days devoted to remembering that person. Masha, however, claims that she is in mourning everyday, and not for a person but for her life. This is very comical. I think it would be interesting for me to try and make Medvedenko laugh at this statement, instead of making it a pity party.