What do you say when you know it’s the last time you’ll see someone alive?

That’s the question I’m pondering to myself today.

My great aunt, my maternal grandmother’s sister,  is 99 years old and today I found out she is in hospice. My aunt’s story is a positive testimony for “aging in place.”  She had 8 kids. One, my cousin Barbara, died in her 40s of Leukemia, but the others are alive and all live close to their mom. They take turns taking care of her in her own home.

Her husband died 20 years ago, so she’s relied and thrived on her children’s care and love.  She is a very loving person and has a very, very large family  I think at last count, it was over 100 people in kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and great- great-grandkids.  Plus, there is the extended family, of which I am one.  No counting how many of us there are as my great aunt had several siblings who all had 4 children or more. Cousins abound!

Tomorrow morning I am taking my mom to see my great aunt.  She is my mother’s madrina, godmother. My mom has known this day was coming and she is very sad. Since my mother no longer drives, she has not been able to see her aunt as often as she would’ve liked. My auntie is the last of her generation, so I know my mom thinks of her own mother’s passing as she contemplates our aunt’s.

I am sad for my mom. I am sad for my aunt’s family. Losing the matriarch of our family will be a challenge for everyone. I am only consoled by a long life lived and well loved.

💔