Mom's journey completed

Sally Irene Didrickson, nee Ogan, passed away surrounded by family on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Unlike in a hospital or at a birth, time of said event was not noted. I think it was afternoon, but who knows and who cares?

She was so, so, so, so, so loved and not surprisingly, she loved big with her whole heart. I would say now that she sacrificed much while never compromising anything. She wasn't perfect but she was perfectly herself. I am lucky and proud to be her daughter.

At the moment of her passing, we were all opening sobbing. I stepped out of the room to tell my husband. My daughter heard him and started wailing and sobbing. My youngest son was speechless. He had gone through so much and from a very young age, of his Oma being either very ill or dying. He didn't know what to say or do. My husband offered to let him see her and he declined, opting to be carried upstairs and sit in his room away from all the grief.

My daughter went to my mom's bedside and said her sobbing goodbyes. My husband, after settling our youngest upstairs, leapt into action offering to retrieve our oldest from band. Our babysitter came over to offer comfort and support. I started calling my mom's friends and colleagues, letting them know she had passed away that afternoon. One of them asked when she died. I answered that it was about a half hour ago. 'You are still in shock' she told me. I felt like I wasn't in shock. I felt like I needed to do something. All of us were expecting this to happen. I wondered why she said that and what it meant.

We also decided we needed to figure out an idea for my mom's burial and funeral. She had only told us verbally that she didn't want to be buried. She preferred cremation. We agreed to honor that request and called a cremation service. They came that night to pick up her body. We all sat around the dining room table, wanting to help when the two representatives had clearly told us not to do so. One of them sat and went over the options for her 'urn'. We all agreed that a highly polished box with a rosewood inlay would be the most beautiful. The gentleman helping us with the decisions was sober and businesslike in his demeanor. I'm guessing it took him time to develop the exact balance that could convey both sympathy and trustworthiness.

Then, the two of them went into the room and took her out after wrapping her in a thick blanket. When I entered the room just after she'd been removed, I saw that her bed was neatly made and they left an artificial rose on her pillow. Seriously, it was appreciated.