Sixty-Three Years and Four Days

My mother died today at 01:10 Eastern Standard Time.

She died in her home, with my sister present at the time of death.

She was a good mother and wife and person all round and we will all miss her.

Her name was Helena.

The picture was taken 3-1/2 years ago and features my mom and her two grandchildren.

Photo credit: Richard of Forbidden Planet

[Updated 28-January-2007 to add photo credit.]

Comments

I'm really sorry this has happened to you and your family. I guess it was just her time. What a lovely picture to put here and a nice way for your children to relate to her today and many years from now.
Sounds like you both had a lot of love for each other.

Thanks for sharing this, Richard.
Thinking of you now.
KayMac said…
Yes. Thanks for sharing your mom and this vulnerable time with us. Also thinking of you and your family now.
Richard, I'm very sad for you and hope that your mom did not suffer. I will be thinking of you and your family.
Take good care of yourself.
Erin
Cavalock said…
My condolences. Take care of yourself and your family.
Anonymous said…
So sorry to hear about your mother.
Just happen to drop-by your blog, hasn't been blogging.

My condolences.
Take care.
TorAa said…
I'll express my sympathy.
Must be very hard to loose your mother and the childrens grandma.
Thanks for sharing and take care
B said…
Richard, my condolences to you and your family. Please know that you are in my thoughts during this sad time.
buzybee said…
I understand how you feel, Richard. Mine passed away last year June.

At least you have a loving mom with you for 63 years and 4 days, who left you with a fond memory. I don't have this privilege.

Take heart.
Anonymous said…
I was posting the quiz "what art movement are you",and put your link,then i tested the link if im not mistaken,and im surprised to see your post...

I am really sorry about your loss,Richard...I know words can`t express my feeling right now...

pls take care of yourself and your family too...Prayer is the only thing I can share with...

(P.S)
Your link is on my entry..would you mind if I share this thing to my readers?If you do,pls leave me a message,I`ll delete your name and the fact of it.thank you...
Richard said…
MOI: thank you

kaymac: thank you.

run around paris: no she did not suffer. One of the blessings of her cancer was that she never really experienced much pain. During her final days, she was not in pain.

cavalock: thanks, I will.

letter for you: what an inauspicious time for you to return to my blog. thank you.

toraa: thank you.

breal: thank you

bee: thank you.

ghee: if I post something, it is public, so you may link if you like.

Never having experienced death before, I had no idea what to expect. I have had friend's whose father's died, I had a friend whose brother died and there was a lot of sorrow when I sat with them. Of course, those deaths were sudden, in my case, I have known for two years that my mother had cancer - only the speed with which the cancer finally consumed her was amazing.

On the other hand, for me, the greatest sorrow was in watching my mother's life fade away.

I was not sure how I would react to seeing my mother dead. When I did, on Friday, my reaction was quite objective (I suppose some would say cold), however, the body which lay on the bed was to me only a shell which had once housed my mother's spirit. As a Christian, I do not believe that death is the end, I believe my mother's spirit still lives.

I feel sad that I will not have any new memories with my mother, that my children will not have any future moments with her, but I am not consumed by it.
Raquel said…
Hi Richard,

Please accept my deep feelings to you and your family members during this sad moment.

Take care and God bless.
Richard said…
raquel: thank you.
Anita said…
So sorry for your loss, Richard. You and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers. She was no doubt a lovely woman and she raised some wonderful kids as far as I can tell. Peace be with her soul.
krystyna said…
Hi Richard!
I'm very sorry and my prayers will be with you!
Peace and Love to you and your family!
I believe too that your mother's spirit still lives!
Rest in Peace!!
Dearest Richard,
I am so sorry for your lost. Much love to you and your family.
Ingrid
Richard said…
trixie: (sorry, can't get used to your new name), she was indeed a very nice person. One thing my friends liked about her was that she was always very welcoming - she always greeted them with a hug and a smile.

krystyna: thank you

ingrid: thank you, too bad you never had a chance to meet her.
tin-tin said…
richard, i'm really sorry for the loss..
Coffee Fairy v1 said…
I send my condolences and prayers, Richard. God bless.
Girlie said…
Richard, it's never easy to lost a parent. My condolenses.
Richard said…
tin-tin: thank you

coffee fairy: thank you

shoshana: thank you. Watching her fade away was significantly harder than seeing her dead.

My mom had a very nice funeral yesterday.
Ancilla said…
Sorry Richard...
I just know it now...

My deep condolences to you and your family.
GOD bless your mother...
She will has a better place up there Richard...

Yes, I know it still hard...
Take good care Richard... Don't be too hard to yourself.
Richard said…
Thank you, Ancilla.

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