Death and funeral

 My mother's coffin

I am so sorry but I haven't been able to write the last weeks.
Since I returned from Prague I went to Sundsvall for the annual meeting with the Rheumatic association but since Mom hadn't been feeling well I first tried to call her ward at the home for elderly but no-one answered despite trying 3 times. I then thought since they hadn't called us and said anything that she was worse, in fact they had said she was better, I assumed it was allright so I decided to go.

 Sundsvall, the view from the hotel

 Me and the chairman (woman) of our board

I flow up on Friday morning and we started our meeting after dinner. I woke up at 5AM and saw that I had a message on my phone. It was my sister H that texted me that Mom had died during the night. It was quite a chock although she had been ill in Alzheimers for several years. You are never ready for your loved ones to pass are you?

The family gathered at the grave before the funeral

Anyway I at once started calling my family to let them know. I called the undertaker and set up a meeting for Monday morning. Mom died the 7th or the 8th. We are not sure and the personal at the home weren't sure either. She died in her sleep, peacefully but with no-one beside her :-(

We wanted to have the funeral before Midsummer and this is quite a short time, just 12 days after passing. But we managed so today the 20th we said good bye to Mom in a beautiful ceremony with much dignity, warmth and in her spirit with wonderful singing.

 After we took the flowers to the grave

Last weekend all of my three boys, me and my sis emptied mothers room and my sister and I also met the priest at church and talked about mother and who she was and her life. He was wonderful, good hearted and really listened to us which showed today when he spoke about mother. He even got us to smile.
A wonderful vocalist who sang mother's favorite songs. The first one has a lyric that goes like this- Who can sail without a wind, who can row without oars, who can part from your friend without shreading tears. 
The second song was Je ne regrette rien by Edith Piaf and oh so true for mother. She never regretted anything.
The last of the secular songs was Bridge over troubled water.
And of course we also had psalms and since it's time of the year we sang about summer and about the love of God.

Parts of the family and also a couple of friends followed us to the grave before the memorial

After the ceremony we went to the grave with all the flowers before going to the memorial.

All in all it was a wonderful day of rememberance and thankfulness to a loved mother and despite us being so sad we also celebrated her life.

 Me and mother many years ago at Gotland. I think it was 1980

I have now been packing and tomorrow me, Hasse and Emil are going to Gotland to the summer house for 10 days vacation. I hope we will have some nice weather and I will try to report here.

Our beach at Gotland

Take care everyone and I wish you all a Happy Midsummer's Eve!