How did you cope with the death of a close family member?

I imagine a lot depends on the circumstances. I had about a year and a half of my mother’s dementia progressing before she passed away, and the final six months she was in a care facility that I visited faithfully. The last month she was nonverbal.

On the last day, I sat at her bedside with Pop and my middle sister while she slept, my father holding her hand. We each kissed her forehead and told her we loved her.

I remember Pop suddenly saying, ”Oh, I think she’s leaving us…” My sister ran to get a nurse, and the nurse checked Mom, then ushered me and my sister out. Pop made it clear he’d move out of the way, but he wasn’t leaving.

My sister went to call her husband, and I sat in a chair outside Mom’s room. The nurse came out, put a hand on my shoulder, and I knew she was gone.