On my way to my Mom's funeral

My mom passed away last Friday night. My oldest sister & I were there holding her hands.

The staff at the facility where has she had spent the past eleven were amazing. She had Alzheimer's and was on a secure ward of the nursing home for the past few years. We didn't need to call in hospice. The doctor was in agreement with our comfort care plan and was very kind.

Despite the morphine, she still took a few days to pass. About 11:30 pm of the third or fourth day, I jokingly told her that if she didn't go before midnight, she'd have to share her death date with the sister-in-law that she really disliked and whom she will buried beside. But that if she died on Friday, 2/12/16, it would be close to her beloved sister's death date of 2/16/12. Didn't she pass just about 5 minutes before midnight!!! Unfortunately, time of date is set when the doctor is reached by phone, so her official date will be 2/13.

The staff came in at least each hour/ half hour to check on her, give her morphine, clean her, reposition her. They hugged her & said goodbye when their shift was over. They brought in a pretty table lamp and a basket of snacks, puzzle books, notepads, pitchers of water/coffee and even sandwiches as we sat in vigil.

My sister & I passed the time by reading the airmail from her family. Mom was 95, a WWII warbride. Her sister was quite witty and kept us in stitches with her sarcasm.