h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I got a call from my father on Easter Monday to say that my eldest aunt was sick in hospital. She was 89 and had been suffering from cancer for a few years. On Tuesday, I left work early at lunchtime and drove out to the hospital, where I saw her for a few minutes. She was in great pain, but they had just fitted a pump which would feed her a constant stream of pain killers. It hadn't yet taken effect.

She regained consciousness enough to look at me and say hello. Then she thanked me for coming in to see her. She shut her eyes again and went back to her own private world of pain. There wasn't anything I could do.

On Friday, she died at around lunchtime. The funeral was on Monday morning. The whole family was there - some coming from as far as Belgium. It was a lovely funeral mass - my aunt was a religious woman who would have liked a good send off. We sang our hearts out in her memory.

Then we drove to the graveyard, over the other side of Dublin. This particular graveyard insists on all the gravestones being horizontal - the only thing vertical in the place is the flowers. Instead of seeing a forest of cold stones, you see a big grassy field covered with flowers. Her husband and her child were already buried there.

Goodbye, Pat.

Sorry to hear that Gnomon, there is never a good time to die, but as she was religious she would have been anticipating a reunion with her husband and child.

I'm sorry for your troubles.

It's good to be able to say goodbye. And it's good to be able to sing a soul into a better place. Whether you believe or not, anywhere is a better place than a life filled with pain.

The graveyard sounds beautiful.

she'll be guardian angel to your girls, G.

My condolences, and deepest sympathies.

When Nature calls a loved one home, there is nothing more beautiful, or heart wrenching, than to sing for their passing.

Dear Gnoman,

May I offer you my condolences on the loss of your Aunt. You were very fortunate that she regained consciousness long enough to speak to you. You will treasure that I am sure

AR!

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It's easier to let them go than want them to stay, when they're like that. It's how I coped with losing my father, who never asked for pain relief until two days before he died.

I'm sorry she knew the pain of losing a child, it's the greatest curse of the gods, according to the Chinese. She's at peace now, and with them, of that I have no doubt.

Thank you for the heartfelt singing and for visiting her

I'm sure she must have been a right good Irish matriarch living to such a grand age. Sound's like she was given a great rousing Irish send off. Also appears to be a lovely location for the interment.

My thoughts and prayers to you and your kinfolk.

Thanks, everybody, for your kind thoughts.

Hope your dad and the rest of the family are coping alright, Gnomon.

We are born with a sorrowful cry;
We're borne off to laments when we die;
Then our souls, say the seers,
Leave this valley of tears
For the ultimate bourn, by and by.

Websailor

A good life. Sorry for your loss, Gnomon.

Horizontal gravestones sound fine to me. I imagine it must have been difficult for you knowing she was in pain but being helpless.

Sounds like a grand funeral.

God grant her peace.