I give talks to parishes in our diocese on this topic (how to sanctify death and illness), and countless Catholics have come up to me (after I explain how we are called to sanctify even death and illness, and how to do it) and they say "I've been a Catholic for 20-30-40-50 years, and this teaching you've given us is some of the most helpful material I've ever been given". 

The "load" is not unbearable, at all.  It may seem unbearable, but it's only our lack of humility that makes it seem so. 

When we move pride aside, there's more room for intimate union with God.

In fact, the purpose of death and illness is to bring us closer to God, and everyone around us!