Think About It. Sudden Death. The good news is that a swarm of warm and loving (even extended) family made hurried trips from far-flung locations. Not only Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, but California, Colorado, even Germany temporarily dropped in population. The gathering had been someday expected for more than ten years as Marilyn 
slowly lost the caustic wit and ability to share the love for children and animals so deftly described in comments at the funeral. Fortunately, our own personal pastor Steve proposed a California style session with permission to enjoy the life rather than mourn the death. While lack of applause may have maintained Indiana decorum, the typical Wade family way kept everyone laughing appropriately.
The usual end-of-earthly-life euphemisms abounded. In the past week I heard or read “left this world”, “slipped away” and “departed”. Of course we need a way to soften the blow at this time difficult to discuss. Legacy.com, with more than 10 million obituaries includes (depending on pastimes) “gone fishing”, “cashed in her chips” and my favorite, “baked her last coconut cream pie and hung up her apron.” While the website notes that approximately 6.5 million of the obits admit that the person who “was called home” has in fact “died”, It will come as no surprise that the most frequently used description (5 million) is “passed away”.
As one might expect, she had rejected Dylan Thomas in that final moment alone. “Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” Rather she chose William Shakespeare. Nurses’ attempts to provide breath finally failed in their absence sometime before 4 in the morning, and Marilyn did not fight, but did “go quietly into the night!”.
My best guess is that this well-loved woman would have fully appreciated the personally approved obituary of Leonard L. Lachendro. “Well — he finally did it. He bought the farm, bit the dust, kicked the bucket (well, he would have if he’d had legs!)”
Even while sharing laughs with friends and family that memorial day, the look of shock on the faces of many was a testimony to the fact that no matter how long a loved-one’s final breath is anticipated, somehow it still seems like Sudden Death. Think About It.
Just in case you want to read his laugh at death, tap here. Leonard L. Lachendro’s obituary
For more Sage opinions, tap thinkaboutit.guru