I was there beside her when it happened. Two other patients shared her room in the nursing home/rehab/hospice and both had visitors.
I was talking with her long time caretaker, who I shared duties with when Mom was at home. I was also looking through my phone at different stupid stuff. The nurse came in, and we looked down at my Mom, and she was gone.
She had quietly stopped breathing while everyone was talking. The nurse listened for a heartbeat, but there was nothing. Everyone was a little dumbfounded. One lady crossed herself.
I was a little perturbed that I had been staring at my phone when it happened. But talking about it, we consoled ourselves that she had slipped away peacefully, so peacefully that no one there noticed the exact moment it happened.
So I’m home now with a lot to do.
Gotta go. I hear my cat throwing up. So life goes on as usual, regardless of all that happens to us.
I’m so sorry. Don’t be hard on yourself. I’ve read that people will sometimes wait until their family member is occupied elsewhere or even out of the room before they let go of this life.
I’m sorry for your loss, Two Many Cats. Take solace in knowing that you were there with her, and that she was in no pain or fear as she left this mortal coil.