Thanks for sharing this, MIR, and I'm sorry for your pain.
I had grief dreams after a very painful divorce some years ago, very similar to how you describe. The full pain and loss of it would be felt in the dream .. very uncomfortable. But I agree it is part of the healing process, as the mind works it way through the pain. These continued for awhile for me, but gradually got less intense over time. I still have an occasional grief dream ... and I'm ok with that. If one loves deeply, it would make sense that while the pain of loss will ease with time, I will still remember it.