Thank you, all, for your kind words and good wishes. They are very much appreciated.
Know that the end was peaceful - utterly peaceful in a wonderfully restful, easy, and comfortable - an almost clichéd - manner. If a death could be perfect, this was.
Because the final decline was so swift, it took all of us by surprise.
One of my brothers arrived mid afternoon - by which stage she was deteriorating - fast - very rapidly - by the hour. The other arrived fifteen minutes before she passed.
By then, with all three of us holding her hands, I said to her that "we're all here"; the first time I said it, she stirred. I repeated it - but very clearly, my brother subsequently remarked - as she seemed to want it confirmed.
Thus, I repeated "we're all here" (I couldn't bring myself to say "you can go now if you wish"), and she puffed slightly, - I had a strong sense that her ears were cocked, and breathed out softly, and that was it.
My splendid cheesemonger dropped some cheeses and salamis and cold cuts, two loaves of ciabatta and a few bottles of wine out to the house.
