Dan’s mom, Betty, passed away last night. Betty was 91 and was remarkably healthy until the last few months.  Her mind was incredibly sharp right to the end, when her body failed her.

By the time I met Betty, she was already in her 80s;  stooped over from the permanent ‘c’ shape in her upper back; but mentally and verbally sharp as could be.  Betty loved being surrounded by family and friends, and didn’t like to be alone–although she was often lonely after the passing of her husband Ed in late 2013.

Her sole grand-daughter lamented not calling Granny enough:  I told her she had been a very attentive and loving grand-daughter; and no amount of calling would have been ‘enough’ for Granny Betty.  Betty was a force to be reckoned with;  she knew and spoke her mind; she was loving and she was judgmental; she was sweet and she was sour.  We all loved her dearly and she will be missed.

This was my second vigil in 6 months.  My mother lingered in hospice for over 2 weeks before passing in January.    Vigils are painful; but are also a powerful source of comfort.  Vigils are a time to remember and reminisce; a time to laugh and to cry; to hug and hold hands with both the dying and the living; Vigils serve as a reminder of what (and who) is truly important and what is not.   I feel lucky and privileged to have been part of Betty’s life and to have been part of her passing.

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