January 3, 2011 7:55 PM

May she resr in peace!

My mother-in-law passed away last night around midnight. As it seems with most passings, it is a mixed blessing. No one passes away like that because they are in good health and from that point of view this was the best possible outcome. But, as we all know, our heads tell us one thing while our hearts say another and she will be greatly mixed.

As much as we accept that this is the way that life works and we know that the day will come when our parents are no longer with us, we are never really prepared to see it happen. But, in our case, we can collectively look back over the past five weeks or so and see that she seemed to will herself through the holidays and past her 93rd birthday until yesterday when there seemed to be nothing left to live for.

Coincidence or not, the ordeal began on Thanksgiving night after everyone had gone home from a wonderful day. She stayed in the hospital until December 3rd(her birthday) - came home for a makeshift birthday party that night - and re-entered the hospital the next morning - staying until the 20th. She was at our house for Christmas; re-entered the hospital on the 30th for half a day; came back home to a New Year's party at her residence that afternoon; and also made it past New Year's Day. She never missed any holiday events or her birthday. We are all so extremely grateful that she was able to be a part of this year's festivities.

As the nurse said yesterday, everyone likes to die in their own way. It seemed that she did not want to pass with everyone gathered around her during the day. As evening wore on, we all exited with the thought of seeing her today. However, a few hours after my sister-in-law left, in the quiet of the evening accompanied only by a hospice care worker, she was finally ready for God's call on her own terms.

Arrangements have been made for a Wednesday evening wake and a Thursday funeral. Time to muster ourselves to say our last goodbyes to someone who had lived a long and productive life.

She has left behind so many people whose lives she touched and who have already expressed their deep sorrow at her passing and how much they will miss her.

What a wonderful legacy to leave behind!

May we all be so fortunate...

Bob