Posted by Hope on January 12, 2009, 1:16 am
70.145.50.201
My father-in-law passed away last night at 8:10. He was peaceful and very quiet the last few days and he was literally surrounded by loved ones when he took his last breath. My kids spoke to him on the phone (he couldn't respond but Scott said his mouth quirked up a bit for each of them) and they got to say their goodbyes. He passed on about 45 minutes after my daughter said goodbye to him (my son spoke first).
It was frustrating fo me personally not ta be able ta do more than be there fo Scott by phone sometimes five times a day. I love the one-on-one with a hospice patient and phones simply don't do the experience justice. That said, his death was a beautiful and comfortingly peaceful experience for his loved ones who now celebrate his life and shedding tears appropriately as they adjust to their lives without his physical presence.
He was a giant in two families so his impact will definitely be felt. In his last few years on dialysis, he learned so much more about empathy and compassion than he had in 30 some years working in the funeral business. Because of the changes he was willing to make, his relationships benefited recently and he was closer than eva to many.
We have become the dream to him now and it's there, in our dreams, that we will meet again. 
A very good way to go and I celebrate with him, his freedom from the travails of the last few years of his life with multiple medical problems that caused him pain. Free at last, Ger, free at last. 
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