Page 334 - She's One Crazy Lady!

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his condition “The Long Goodbye”. Naturally we were all distraught but for Dad – and for Mum – but in many ways we had to think it was a happy release. Mum knew that.
ho could only have been in his early twenties, perhaps younger, used to tease Mum about taking her out. Even on the night before she died he was sitting next to her holding her
Mum was to have many more happy years at Sunley and made some lovely friends, joining in with many of the activities and all the family going into see her, do her garden and to take her out – always appreciating whatever anyone did for her – ‘thank you’ being her two most important words. She loved to hear what we were all up to and would always show a genuine interest – she always sensed if something was worrying us and liked to feel involved, always willing to listen and offer advice.
However, as time went by Mum’s health began to deteriorate and she experienced a couple more strokes which left her body weak and fragile. It became clear that the carers could not manage her as we would have liked, or as Mum needed. The nursing care Mum needed wasn’t available so, one morning in March 2012 we made an instant decision to move her to a Nursing Home as she had become quite poorly and was getting distressed. It felt so sad having to move her knowing she had enjoyed her years at Sunley but we had to do what was right for her.
The Nursing Home wasn’t ideal. Sadly, for most of the time she was there, Mum was bedridden – but NEVER complained and – somehow – always smiled, humming along to Classic FM! She loved our visits – loved to know all that was happening in our lives – and in the early days enjoyed it when we wrapped her warmly into a wheelchair to take her into the garden to touch and smell the flowers and to breath in some welcomed fresh air. She also liked to have fun with some of the younger, male, carers. One in particular – Paul – who could only have been in his early twenties, perhaps younger, used to tease Mum about taking her out. Even on the night before she died he was sitting next to her holding her hand, telling her they would have to cosy up by the fire
that night as he hadn’t got enough money to go out anywhere... to which Mum replied in her usual style – “Ooh, I say!” How special it was when, on the day of Mum’s funeral, he proudly stood on the steps of the church as Mum and we arrived. He told me it was his day off but had to come – he thought the world of her.
Mum passed away on December 3rd 2013. Mum was 89.
We had prepared ourselves that Mum was getting very weak and fragile and so grateful we were all able to be with her in her final moments. She would have been at
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