Zandra. So sorry about your grandson. If you're in a cold winter climate October might have been too late to transplant it because it wouldn't have had much time to re-establish roots before winter. Although presumably it had lost its leaves by then so water demands wouldn't have been high. Since it was 14 years old it may have had a lot of roots, did you managed to include most of them when you moved it?
One thing you could do is scratch at the bark on a branch or two and see if it is still green underneath. If it is, that would be a good sign. Or cut off a branch and put its base in water indoors to see if the buds open. It's still early in some areas, have other plants in the garden or nearby got their new leaves for this year?
