Dear Kassi, Like you I have friends who have died and whom I still miss very much. The friends we made when bringing up children together are very special but it is possible to make friends now.
I have found that you have to make a purposeful effort, and keep it up, if you want to make new friends. First you have to be out and about doing activities you enjoy such as classes at the University of the 3rd Age (U3A), synchronised swimming at the local pool, reading to kids in primary school etc.
Then you have to start networking. I have found that if you just attend things nothing much happens. I keep an address book and a note book in my hand bag. If someone wants to know something, I say I will look for it and get back to them. So they write their email in my note book and I write the date, where I met them and what they want to know. I cannot count how many times people have wanted the name and address of the IT technician who makes home visits. I make sure when emailing that I say how nice it was to meet them etc. and how I hope they will get help etc. If I meet them again I ask after them etc.
From time to time I attend conferences. One on decluttering was very interesting and led to exchange of names and addresses and skype etc. I send Christmas greetings to all my contacts.
I go on holiday to Morocco with a belly dancing teacher. The group are all very interesting people of all ages. I give my email so that people can send me pictures etc.
I work as a volunteer and seek out like minds. I have just invited one to an alumni event at the university where I got my degree.
When ever I am driving somewhere I check out, by looking in my hard copy address book if I will be passing near to a friends house. For example I am attending college for Family History in a market town near me and this takes me near a very long term acquaintance, I have rung her and arranged to call.
As I live in the country, all my friends who actually visit me at home are still able to drive and have cars. I taught one to use a sat nav. She bought one, her daughter borrowed it and did not return it so now she has bought another. She is on holiday abroad at the moment. She still hasn't got to my house yet!!! I text my friends when they are on holiday hoping that they are enjoying themselves and looking forward to catching up when they get back etc. I have various places where I meet up with friends including a monthly meet up with ex work colleagues.
I regularly look through my address book and ring those people I have not had contact with. Recently, after 3 attempts I found the couple had been ill etc. We agreed to meet up when they are feeling better.
Hope you find a person or two who are on the same wavelength and become close friends. All the best.