It's cool that she and Jamie were able to do The Fog together long before it was some token effort, while she could still hold her own.
Both she and Rodney had solid, well-respected careers and got to enjoy life to the fullest. I don't find that sad at all, its just one more sign of time passing in this case. I sympathize with the family though as things like this are never easy, especially when you are as close as she and Jamie were.
As long as their work carries on great artists remain "alive" IMO, a luxury most of us won't know. Certainly her top work will keep her alive for a long time to come.