Geez…I’m so sorry to hear this. You and your family are in my thoughts.
Add me to the host of Dopers holding you and yours in our thoughts. 
I don’t know what’s taking so long, but I still haven’t heard back. They have our phone numbers because I gave them to the PD this morning. My brother (Cricetus/tnetennba) said his wife also talked to the FD a little bit this afternoon, but didn’t get much more information, but they sort of confirmed the identification off the record. Maybe it’s taking longer to get a positive ID without somebody there.
They still don’t know the cause of the fire either. It started in the bedroom. My mother didn’t smoke, so I’m guessing it had to have been something electrical.
There’s so much crap to do, and I don’t even know where to start. I just got off the phone with my dad who had a lot of advice (ironically, he just lost his own mother a few weeks ago), but there is going to be long row to hoe. We don’t even know who her insurance company was. I’m calling her lawyer tomorrow just as a starting point.
I’m so sorry–you have my deepest sympathies.
Oh, Dio, how awful. What a terrible way to lose a loved one. My deepest condolences.
Just saw this… Truly sorry. It must be horrible. 
Add me to the long list of those who send condolences, Dio.
an seanchai
Speechless.
Per Dio’s link:
… the victim is likely (Dio’s mom) … a former Herald reporter … “sad news for the Herald,” said … the paper’s editor and publisher … “… (s)he was part of the crew that covered the 1997 Flood — coverage that earned the Herald the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service …”
http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/8142/group/News/ (with more details of her career)
Sorry. My condolences.
Yeah, she had a piece of a Pulitzer Prize. Her proudest accomplishment. She also once got individually nominated for another Pulitzer before that, and won a ton of other reporting awards. She was a great political reporter, extremely smart, was on a first name basis with multiple US Senators, Congressmen and Governors, knew where all the bodies were buried, did some occasional appearances on local television and radio shows. She did a couple of talking head appearances on CNN. She’s the only person I ever knew who actually read Hillary’s health care plan from cover to cover, and I have a vivid memory of her dissecting a local right wing radio host on the air about it, totally exposed him as having no idea what he was talking about. My mother was very difficult to debate. She would just snow you under with facts and cites. She would have been a good Doper.
That’s awesome. And that post, right there? That’s exactly how you should remember her: by her rich life and her long list of accomplishments.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of her life and spirit with us.
I agree. I hope you’re able to share more about her as time goes on. Sounds like she was a fascinating person.
I’m so sorry to hear this. It sounds like she had a full life.
What a horrible thing to happen Diogenes. Your mum sounds like a very special lady, and I wish you and your family peace during this time.
kam
Holy crap! I’m so sorry Dio Your mom sounds like an amazing woman.
quite emotional right now, can’t in fact see all that clearly, oh Dio’
I want to add my own thoughts and prayers.
I spoke, out loud, “Well, fuck, Dio,” when I read the thread title, and I’ll stick with it.
I’m simply add that you have my sympathy and condolences.