My Sister has just told me...

[Guest guest]

I just got the call from my Sister; she and one of our aunts are there with our

mother (as well as the hospice worker); mother just passed away a few minutes

ago, while in a coma. Sister said that there is a look of peace on her face.

I asked Sister to kiss mother's forehead for me and tell her goodbye, and I hope

she will find peace and happiness now.

I'm glad I went to see mother when I did; I had a feeling that it was my last

opportunity to see her alive.

Even knowing that her death was coming, and expecting it, its still something

that will take time for me to process. I am glad that I am able to cry; I was

beginning to wonder if I had slipped back into a kind of semi-dissociative state

and shut off all my feelings again. But when I spoke to my aunt on the phone,

the tears came.

Sister is supervising the arrangements; everything was already planned and in

place RE nada's funeral, etc. The plan is to wait until Sister's son/my nephew

can get leave from the military this spring to have a memorial service for mom

and scatter her ashes where dad's were scattered. Mom had requested that; she

wanted her earthly remains to be mingled with dad's.

So. I just wanted to share that part of my story, my experience. I'm having

mixed feelings of sadness and relief. My mother isn't scared or angry or

frustrated or disappointed or in pain any more, and that's a good thing.

-Annie