"How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again"

[historyteach]

My mother is very ill.
She's dying.

My dad died suddenly and very unexpectedly six years ago in May. That June, my mom had back surgery. Right afterwards, she had a terrible flare up of her Rhumatoid arthritis. She's had arthritis her entire adult life, and has always had it under control. Indeed, she and my dad always went dancing; she gardened, walked, swam, etc... even though her hands and joints were knarled and bent. She believed that keeping active kept her from being crippled. One doctor didn't believe she had RA; he said she would be in a wheel chair if she had it that long. Well, she wasn't. She was too busy living her life. That is untill two of life's stressors hit her in a row. The loss of my dad and major surgery. Since then, she's gone right down hill. And it's been six years....She's in constant pain.

They took her to the hospital today. The priest gave her last rites. She wants to die. She asked my brother why she just can't go....

She's changed her living will. She no longer wants to be recessitated. No measures are to be taken. If her heart or anything else goes, she is to be allowed to die.

I was with her yesterday. I've never seen her so bad. She was in and out of it. And she couldn't even walk to the bathroom - a first. Even the nurse was surprised.

This is a reading that she wants me to read at her funeral. I thought I would share it with you. It's quite lovely.

'Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!'

The parting is so difficult, indeed.
But, with faith in G*D, we know that there is continuity; that it is as it should be. As hard as it is to accept sometimes.
Please say a prayer for my mom...

Shalom!

[suki44883]

:praying

[grateful2b]

(((((Teach)))))

How beautiful and for me as well, how true...
prayers of strength , love and light for you and your mom.

[Done_With_It]

{{{Teach}}}

[Live]

I will hold both of you in my thoughts. What a special lady, I can tell!
The reading is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen and it tells so much about her.
We can know that she will no longer suffer pain, and her beauty and character remain.
She sounds very peaceful about it.
I will be holding your hand,

Love,
Tena

[splendra]

(((HT)))

Darling I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. It's so difficult letting the ones we love go.

It sounds like her spirit is in fine shape. I love the poem really a fine way to say see ya later.

[Wolfstarr]

Gravity will keep us grounded, and the Lord will lift her up.......

Prayers for your family and your dear Mom, teach....

[deedee]

(((teach)))

My heart and prayers are with you and your mom ... may you find peace and comfort at this difficult time.

with love ~

deedee

[Morning Glory]

Lots of prayers Teach.

I know this must be very difficult.

[Josie]

Prayers to you and your family Teach.

[indigo]

May your mom finally be reunited with her beloved and rest in peace.I will now be praying for the rest of the family, who will be grief stricken although they will be celebrating her life.
Annie

[historyteach]

My mom passed on 13 August 2008.
We had a lovely memorial ceremony which was a celebration of her life.
There were few tears; much music, laughter and prayer. The assistant at the funeral home told me today that it was "the best one they've ever had!"
A mass of Christian burial followed the next day.
We will scatter her ashes on 1 September 2008, at the same place we did my dad's.
It is all as she wanted.

Her obit is located at www.onhfh.com
Her name is Constance M. K. and it is located on the right hand side of the page according to the date of departure from this life. There's a lovely pic of her there; it's her favorite one.

I am grateful for all your loving support during this difficult time.
My mom is at peace; we carry on.

Shalom!

[Wolfstarr]

They that love beyond the world
cannot be separated by it.
Death cannot kill
what never dies.

— William Penn

What a beautiful woman...a lovely picture indeed... thoughts are with you and your family, teach, as well as prayers.

[Rowan]

I'm very sorry to hear of her passing, Debbie, but I'm glad that she is no longer in pain.
Healing hugs going out to you.

I read her obituary just now; she was a beautiful lady, inside and out.

[splendra]

I have a strong feeling she rests in peace((((((Debbie)))))

[indigo]

Aw I couldn't get the page up Teach although I'm sure it was a lovely obit.

[historyteach]

I think they were experiencing technical difficulties before, Annie, cuz I couldn't get it up either, then.
It's up now...

Shalom!

[kidsandmemake3]

Thank you for sharing your mother with us. She is someone who is a real inspiration and I love that glimmer in her eyes along with that generous smile. Deepest sympathy to you and your family as she will be greatly missed.