News article: Danica McKellar Compares Divorce to a Death in the Family

06/08/2012 AT 03:55 PM EDT

Danica McKellar is mourning the

– but the beloved star of

is thankful for her fans.

"I am just overwhelmed by the love and support in the messages I've been receiving from all of you via Twitter and Facebook during this incredibly tough time," she

"The end of a marriage has got to be one of the saddest events one can experience."

McKellar, who separated from composer Mike Verta on June 1 after

, puts the end of their relationship on par with losing a loved one.

"I've heard that the pain [of divorce] is second only to an actual death in the family, and that sounds about right," writes the star, 37, who has a 21-month-old

But the actress says she's "grateful" that their parting "has been nothing but amicable, and that this process seems like it will be as smooth as can be hoped for."

"We are both totally in love with our little boy," she writes, "and believe this is the best thing for him."
What are the most important parts of this news article?
"The end of a marriage has got to be one of the saddest events one can experience," says the Wonder Years star