Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my Aunt Louise. Not caught up in perfectionism, like my (love you, Mom) dear mother, Aunt Louise believed that life was too short and having fun was the most important thing. If you wanted to get a picture in your mind of Aunt Louise, she reminded me a bit of Aunt Bea on the Andy Griffith Show. She had the same smile and sparkle in her eyes and she loved to laugh.
Before the funeral, my aunt's granddaughter pulled me over to the side and shared that before she died, Aunt Louise made the comment that my father had come to help her cross over. It didn't surprise me in the least bit as I thought he might. Before my father died back in 2002, he saw his mother who had died when he was four years old. I had spoken to him alone one day and told him that from my experience working with the dying, that many people had a loved one come to them to help make the transition. He had so longed for her to be the one. And sure emough, before he died he said, "Momma". I knew then that he'd gotten his wish.
In the book, Final Gifts, by hospice nurses Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley, the concept of Nearing Death Awarenenss is the primary topic. Nearing Death Awareness includes such things as seeing and communicating with loved ones who have already died and seeing what lies beyond this life (similar to Near Death experiences). These experiences of the dying can be their "final gift" to love ones, if we're aware and don't pass them off as being hallucinations or dreams. Not only are these experiences comforting to the dying, but they also bring comfort to us who are left behind as well.
Knowing that Aunt Louise is now with her little brother--my dad--is a comfort to our whole family. We can picture them telling their stories about the old days and laughing, just like they did at our family gatherings for so many years.
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