Well we've come to the end of the month of May and also the end of the journey for Bill's mom. She passed yesterday morning. I was there with her until the end and even though she didn't quite make it to her 100th birthday (July) she definitely gave it quite a ride.
This is her shortly after we brought her down to live next door to us on December 31, 2022. Fortunately she made her wishes known to us and we are not left wondering what to do. Arrangements have already been made for cremation and she will be buried next to her husband. There is not a lot of personal stuff to go through and her finances were all in order.
When I see this picture, though, I realize how far she had declined in the past year. At the time this was taken we were going on weekly trips to the library and the grocery store. For the last year she has had no interest in reading at all and she rarely left the house. Our last outing was in March to get biscuits and gravy for breakfast. She loved her biscuits and gravy.
Anyway, just wanted to put this out there as the last few of my posts have been updates on her. She will be missed.
Dear Janet,
ReplyDeleteAlthough not at all shocked or surprised by this news, I am nevertheless saddened and very sorry for your loss. The other day, when you and I last corresponded at Shady's Place, I sensed from the way you described your MIL's mood that she was ready to leave this world and had no fervent desire to continue the difficult march toward becoming a centenarian. She rests now, and you and Bill can stand down knowing you did all you could for as long as you could to help her in her final months and years. I know she appreciated your valiant efforts.
Coincidentally, on the same day you published this announcement, I sat watching a live zoom transmission from a church where my dear cousin Betsy was honored in a memorial service and soon after laid to rest in the same cemetery where her parents, my parents and several other family members are buried. As I mentioned on my blog, Betsy died a week ago yesterday, having lost her arduous battle against the dreaded Lou Gehrig's Disease.
I offer deep condolence to you, Bill and the rest of your family, dear friend Janet. Please take care of yourselves and may your hearts be healed.
Thank you so much my friend. It is indeed almost a relief to have it over, not that we wanted her gone, just that she was really suffering so much the last few weeks. I am so glad we were able to do what we could to make the transition easier. Interestingly, in California they have what is called the "End of Life" option where you can actually request medication to end your life if you have a terminal illness. She wanted to do that but it is a process and she was able to articulate it to one doctor but by the next day she had already passed that point and could not remember what it was she needed. Family members cannot request it so we were left with the option of just keeping her comfortable.
DeleteI am sorry for your loss as well. I guess that is one of the downfalls of getting older, we start losing those we love at a faster rate. You and Mrs. Shady are in our thoughts as well.