My grandmother passed away...

[Memnoch]

Thanks all, it was sad of course, but we'd pretty much prepared for it happening. She was so fit and hale three years ago until she broke her hip and became wheelchair bound - the deteriorated significantly since then, so we knew it wasn't long and I'd pretty much steeled myself for it happening. I just didn't expect it to happen when we were on holidays. But in a way it was probably a blessing for my dad as he didn't have to watch her pass on - he was a wreck as it was. They were VERY close - I think of the 58 years of life he had they were separated for two years. It was my first experience with death at a mature age - my grandpa died when I was 10 so I was a bit too young to understand.

We got the news when we were driving on the autostrade near Pescara midway between Assisi and San Giovanni on Italy's northeast coast, on Easter Saturday. We thought of turning back then and there to go back to Rome, but since we didn't have any numbers for Cathay Pacific and no idea about whether or not we were even going to be able to fly back the next day, we decided to push on to San Giovanni that night, get to our hotel, make the calls and the bookings, then drive back to Rome early the next day. We got to San G about 11pm, attended Easter Vigil Mass which we were just in time for, the Mass finished at 2am, we got to our hotel, I got about 2 hours sleep then we were up at 4 to drive back to Roma, which was about 600kms away. So I basically drove about 1100kms in 13 hours with about 2 hours sleep, without really knowing the way. Then at the airport we had to run around with all the bookings etc which was a massive pain given the circumstances - but in a way all the activity and adrenaline meant that we didn't really have time to grieve and so it didn't hit us as hard as we thought it would. By the time we got to Manila it was just sadness at losing a loved one, rather than mindless grief.

I'm ok with it now, she did live a long and fabulous life. Would have been nice to get a century but 95 is a damn good innings. I owe my ability to speak and understand Spanish to her, she devoted her whole life to us while we were kids. I'll miss her but I know she's in a better place, without suffering, and I've made made my peace with that. For my dad, it might take a bit longer, but we all have to move on.

Thank you very much everyone for your support. It does mean a lot. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 04-22-2004, 04:03 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[The Hierophant]

My respects to you and yours Memnoch.
And it says something about the closeness of your family that you cut short your Italian holiday to attend her funeral. I can honestly say that it wouldn't be likely that I would do the same for my paternal grandmother. So you have my respect on that count too.

[Donut]

Sorry to hear the news Mario.

[WillowIX]

I'm sorry to hear that Memsy. It's always sad to lose loved ones. I hope you're holding up. It really sounds like she lived a good life with a loving family.

[Xen]

My condolences. Well let us hope that she is on a better place. Be strng man.

[wellard]

95 years was a blessing, may your clouds of sadness soon turn to warm memories of her that stay with you for ever.

My thoughts and best wishes to you mate.

[Davros]

Sad to hear Mario, but glad for you and her that it was a good innings and a full life.

[Cloudbringer]

I'm so sorry, Mario. It's never easy, is it? I'm glad you got to say goodbye and hope you remember all the good things about her when she was with you. You have my sympathy and prayers.

[mistral4543]

I went through this last year, Memnoch, and I still feel the pain of losing my maternal grandmother. To this day, each time that I cross the bridge towards my workplace, I gaze upon the river and flowers and whisper silently as if I were still conversing with her.

May time help you to cope with your loss better.

[Lanesra]

My condolences Mario.