That's an incredibly long time in which to feel lonely (hopefully it wasn't the whole time), and it's easy to become convinced that if you were lonely with someone then it will only become worse when they're gone.
It's not true. Loneliness isn't a curse that was thrust upon you, nor is it a burden for you to bare until the end of time. Take some chances, reach out and you'll find that there are others looking for the same company you're searching for.
Watch out for weirdos by all means...but don't shy away from what could be what you've been searching all along.
I do. I have so many friends. As I say this I realize I am not feeling the connections. The last year has been hard for me. I feel people caring for me but maybe their caring allows me to not move forward. I'm more than the last year but feel stuck as the person who ended her marriage, had three surgeries, and lost one of her closest friends. Grief led me to loneliness. I just couldn't talk about it any more.
Thank you for your kind thought and room to voice my feelings.