I think the idea was not that she was waiting for her father her whole life. You just saw her throughout her life, just stopping from time to time and to think about her father. Sure, she was missing him, but you also saw her move on. She got friends and a family.
Yeah, she had friends and family but still too much space of her soul and mind was used..
Maybe I cant understand or imagine this..
I never felt fathers love..
Last but not least, I stand upon my opinion. Parents are important - but the strongest thing they leaved us is their heritage, lore, creed... independently of their bodies.