24 April 2012

Like a Candle in the Wind

I've just returned from a few days with my mother again, this time to attend a funeral. It seems to be, as you get older, that funerals are more frequent than ever before, as gradually your circle of family and friends gets smaller.

This time, however, the death was the least expected. It was my mother's cousin who had been more like a sister to my mum than a cousin. They telephoned one another at least once a week and occasionally the cousin visited my mother and took her out to lunch somewhere. They had been chatting on the phone only the day before she died and been out to lunch together only a fortnight before. The cousin had not been seriously ill and had only gone down with a mere cold a few days before. It is true to say she was painfully thin (and we often suspected she was verging on the anorexic), so maybe this did not help her general health. On Good Friday afternoon, she had gone out shopping with her husband, but was feeling unwell with the cold and went to bed early on Good Friday evening. The next morning at 5am, her husband discovered her lifeless body beside him. The post-mortem revealed she had died of broncho-pneumonia. Her sister rang me a few hours later to break the news to me and it was the hardest news to take in. Even now, none of us can really believe it. She was 71. For her it was the best way to go - to go to sleep and not wake up, but for her husband, sons, grandchildren and wider family, it just doesn't seem possible.  The funeral was held last Friday in sunny Hastings. The weirdest thing was eating a piece of Simnel cake at the funeral reception that she herself had made for Easter.

Always tell your loved ones you love them: you never know what the next day may (or may not) bring.

10 comments:

Flowerpot said...

I am so sorry for your loss - the unexpected can be devastating. But you're quite right about telling our loved ones we love them. Take care.

Furtheron said...

Sorry to hear of your loss - like you say never let an opportunity to say "I love you" go by

Anonymous said...

How life is so unpredictable sometimes; those words we don't say enough should become a daily activity. I'm so sorry to hear about an obviously dear member of your family. 71 is a young age these days so I can imagine how devastating this has been.

CJ x

AGuidingLife said...

That is very sad. I am sorry. The simnel cake made me feel very sad.

Claire Toplis said...

I am sorry , you are so very brave x

Nota Bene said...

That's very sad indeed...hope your mother doesn't take it too hard...

DD's Diary said...

Oh that's so terribly sad. Your mother must be devastated. And that's very good advice, I will be saying those three little words more often :)

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Sorry to hear of your sad loss Addy - hope mum is okay.

It is important, very important to let our loved ones know they are indeed well loved.

Anna

AGuidingLife said...

Am I right thinking Greg's Birthday just went past? Think so. I was thinking about you. Much love xx

ADDY said...

Kellogsville - yes, it was on Sunday. How kind of you to remember. He would have been 63. I sang Happy Birthday to his photo and managed to get through the day keeping busy!