On Sunday afternoon, my mother passed away. She had been fairly ill in recent months with several maladies. In recent weeks, the decline in her health was fairly dramatic.
I had planned to travel to her home, about 125 miles from where I live, on Sunday and stay until Monday in order to help her take care of some financial transactions. I had a busy Sunday morning. I had to play the organ at an early Mass and cantor at a later Mass. After the later Mass, my wife and I went out for breakfast. While at breakfast, we ran into a friend that was picking up a cake for a family gathering to celebrate her stepdaughter's upcoming wedding. The friend invited my wife and I to stop by. I figured I would stop by on my way to my mother's house.
Immediately after departing my house for my mother's house, I had the feeling that I should skip the pre-wedding celebration. I also skipped a usual stop at the outlet mall where I regularly stop to look for some bargains. For some reason, I felt it would be best just to get to my mother's house.
As soon as I entered my mother's house, I sensed something unusual. I knew that my oldest sister was there. I immediately headed to my mother's bedroom. My mother was asleep in a hospital bed and my sister was comforting her. My sister announced to my mother that I had arrived. My mother stirred a bit, but kept on sleeping. I could tell it was a slumber from which she would not awake. Forty-five minutes after I arrived, my mother breathed her last breath. I was so glad that I didn't stop at the pre-wedding celebration or the outlet mall.
My sister and I cried - perhaps more out of relief for my mother than sadness on our part. My mother ended her earthly journey on her own terms. Fortunately, God and she shared the same terms. My mother died very peacefully at home with family members close by.
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