# Death of a parent **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722 "2014-12-09T03:13:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rahne\_McCloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rahne\_McCloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rahne_McCloud)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/1 "2014-12-09T03:13:23Z")
This morning I was made an orphan. My mother passed away in her sleep during the middle of the night. She didn’t want her blankets on her, I guess it was her way of making sure she didn’t get caught up in them when she left. My mom died at the age of 85, after a long fight with heart disease and C.O.P.D… This day would have been my parents 68th anniversary, I think my dad came to take her away to be with all those who have gone ahead. My dad died 20 years ago and my mom took care of him while he was dying of cancer, even though they had divorced many years ago. My mom still loved my dad and the same can be said of my dad about mom. My mom is now singing in the choir and tap dancing with all the famous dancers that she loved. Mom you will be missed by your 6 children and 5 grandchildren, and way too many nieces and nephews to count. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/2 "2014-12-09T03:19:55Z")
I’m sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/3 "2014-12-09T03:20:41Z")
I’m so very sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/4 "2014-12-09T03:25:11Z")
She was a wonderful woman and a great friend to me. She accepted all our friends without hesitation-even more amazingly, she accepted _me_ into her family without hesitation. She was the type of mother-in-law that would always fix too much food, just so she could ship leftovers home with the guests. When My Beloved’s sister took her in for home hospice care recently, we would joke about putting the leftovers into containers for her to take to her room. She was always a joy to be with to me, and I don’t yet know how large the hole in my heart is. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/5 "2014-12-09T03:55:40Z")
May her memory always bring you much joy. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/6 "2014-12-09T05:15:29Z")
My condolences on your loss, Rahne and Czarcasm. She sounded like a very sweet and special woman. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/7 "2014-12-09T05:32:00Z")
My condolences. It’s especially tough when a loved one passes during the holidays. I know personally. May your fondest memories of her bring you much comfort. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/8 "2014-12-09T07:11:24Z")
My sympathies to you, \*\*Rahne \*\*and **Czarcasm.** I was made an orphan in January when Pops succumbed to COPD and I know it isn’t a kind disease. My thoughts will be with you in the coming days. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/9 "2014-12-09T07:15:20Z")
I’m so very sorry, Rahne and Czarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/10 "2014-12-09T07:22:31Z")
I’m sorry for your loss, \*\* Rahne\*\* and **Czarcasm**. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/11 "2014-12-09T12:25:03Z")
I’m so sorry. Be kind to yourselves during this difficult time. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/12 "2014-12-09T13:18:55Z")
I’m sorry. It doesn’t matter how old you are when your last parent dies, it’s a lonely feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/13 "2014-12-09T13:59:13Z")
My son was staying with my sister-in-law and assisting in the hospice care, and her death hit him hard yesterday morning. It’s the first death of a close relative he has had to encounter, and he was right there when it happened. Now he only has one grandparent left. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/14 "2014-12-09T14:13:55Z")
You have my sympathies. May your memories comfort you during this sad time. She sounds like a dear, sweet woman. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/15 "2014-12-09T14:42:40Z")
I lost my Mom this past August and while it still hurts, I know that the pain she knew for many years is gone. My condolences and best wishes to you and your’s. This is probably the most painful thing that all children MUST face sooner or later. You are never an orphan…Mom ain’t that far away. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/16 "2014-12-09T14:49:20Z")
I’m so very sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/17 "2014-12-09T15:04:05Z")
I’m so sorry for your profound loss, she’s sounds a remarkable and very loving woman. ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/18 "2014-12-09T16:39:34Z")
My condolences on your loss, Rahne and Czarcasm. Death of a loved one is always hard, around the holidays that much more. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/19 "2014-12-09T16:50:44Z")
It hits really hard when the second parent dies. My mom was the second. I said to my sister “we’re orphans now.” She said “Peedin, we’re in our 50s, we’re too old to be orphans.” A few months later she said “we’re orphans.” It’s amazing how much we miss Mom and Dad. We love swapping stories about them and I still say “I want my mom.” Peace to all during this difficult time. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722/20 "2014-12-09T20:36:50Z")
We’ve decided on holding off on any services until January, rather than disturb everyone’s Christmas plans. In the meantime, she will sit in an urn on the fireplace until her final wish of a dispersal at sea can be performed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-a-parent/706722.md?page=2)