Does anybody remember the ending of Charlotte's Web? Where in the ensuing years after Charlotte dies, there are always zillions of new little baby spiders, and eventually they fly off in the wind... but:

There were always two or three who stayed around and kept Wilbur company and talked to him, so he was never alone. Even if most drifted away, enough always remained behind to keep Charlotte's spirit alive. That's the sort of thing I mean.