Thanks for the post.  I was kind of thinking these same things.

People that have had a profound influence on my life are passing away.  People that I looked up to and can't imagine living in a world without.  That makes it even more important for us to be those kind of people, to do our best to replace those kind of people, whether we feel that we're capable enough or not.

Because if we live our lives right, some day people will think of us as having been important to them. As having helped others.  As having provided a good example to our families and communities.