I just got a phone call. My favorite aunt, Aunt Vida, died this evening. She had been in a nursing home for several years due to severe back problems, but very much mentally sharp. I last saw her about a year ago. She and my mother were very close. In fact, my mother went to see her today. They had lunch together and my aunt Vida had a big lunch and bragged on the fried fish. My mother left the nursing home about 3:00 and told her she’d see her in a couple of weeks. My mother says she looked great. Then, apparently, she went to dinner tonight and ate well. She went back to her room and her roommate was loud and complaining so she wheeled herself out of the room and told the nurses she had to get out of the room because she couldn’t stand to listen to her roommate. Evidently, a few minutes later they just looked up and she has passed away in her chair. Not a bad last day. Who of us wouldn’t want one like that? I spoke to her daughter, my first cousin just now. She’s so glad her mother went quickly and painlessly. She said it was what her mother wanted.
My great aunt Connie went sort of the same way. My grandmother, her only sister, lived in California (Connie was in Rhode Island), but stayed with us in CT for a couple of months every summer and had just visited Connie for a week. Connie went down for a nap soon after Grandma left, and was found dead a couple of hours later. She died with a smile on her face. Her funeral was not sad at all, almost everybody was saying how wonderful it was that she died when she did (she was 91).
Amen and thanks for sharing with us and giving us the chance to offer our sympathies. I’m sure all of us have had our share of varying experiences of family passing, and hers did seem one of relative mercy, from your description.
Peace to your whole clan. May we all go peacefully in the end.
Advanced souls often pass on easily, it seems to me. Others, less advanced in the process, are more entrenched and have difficulty letting go. If I have the opportunity, I want to be the one who says to the arriving passengers on the bus (Earth), “Here, have my seat. I have had a good life, and it is time for me to leave.”
With regard to names I think that “Vida” is a wonderful name. I wonder why it isn’t used more often? Vida means life. Surely, “Vida” is just as good as “Heather” or any of the more modern names chosen for infant girls.
Dale, I am sorry for your loss of a favorite aunt. I also miss my aunt Lola, who took care of me as an infant when my family was devastated by polio.
It’s such a very balanced way of expressing that moment - and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it said better.
You are a special man.
Best regards
Mitch
Edited to say: Ahh - I’ll explain that a bit - My brother died when he fell from a cliff while watching the sunset - he loved sunsets. My grandfather died when someone said “You look a bit pale” he said “never felt better in my life”. My father died with a sign in his hand saying “do not revive” shortly after he made peace after 30 years with his eldest.
Death for the dying is plain - for the living it is a big thing, it’s nice to see the right perspective expressed so well.
My deepest sympathies are extended to you and your family Dale. I am certain that your Aunt Vida is in good hands and very happy to be there… not to mention that she nolonger has to put up with a loud roomate.