My father raised me and my two brothers without a mother but she was killed by a drunk driver when she was only 27 and I was 5 (the youngest of the three of us). I personally can't imagine being without a parent and knowing they were still alive but didn't want to have anything to do with me. That would be worse I think than knowing they were dead.

I realize not all divorces end up with a parent leaving and never having contact with the kids again but I think it is a majority.