You are handling everything just fine. When they have a death that hits close to home, sometimes, it wakes them up briefly or even permanently. I think he realizes that life is short and he could very well lose even more loved ones along the way.
Continue as you have been.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
