Dad passes away today at nearly 9am peacefully with Mum and I on a sunny day in Room 20 of Weald House after several foggy and damp ones. Dr Lyle came to certify Dad’s death and then until the funeral directors came to collect Dad and take him away to the chapel of rest at Hail Weston. Later the staff buttonholed me and asked that we put Mum somewhere else more suitable as Weald House is full of elderly and confused people and that Mum now needs some sheltered accommodation with more social facilities etc.
The other news today is of the assassination of the new Lebanese president by car bomb which killed 23 others in the process, a Conservative ‘stalking horse’ candidate is to stand against Thatcher for the party leadership and ambulance management and ambulanceman are blaming each other for a breakdown in the service
I was awoken early this morning by a call from Mrs Issitt of Weald House nursing home who told us that Dad’s pulse had weakened and that he was near to the end. I waited at home, showered and dressed and then finished off typing in the relatives addresses to the computer list for mum to look at. Dad was still breathing when I got there, deeply and at varying pace. He was calm, peaceful and laying still. After several foggy and damp days, the sky was clear and the sun shining across Room 20 is a much better memory of his passing. Mum sat and held his right hand; Matron Issitt his left and I sat nearby. He finally died nearly 9am. I went downstairs with Mum whilst Matron laid Dad out. Then mum and I went back and worked on our address lists and arrangements until Dr Lyle came to certify Dad’s death and then until the funeral directors came to collect Dad and take him away to the chapel of rest at Hail Weston.
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I left Mum then and came home to phone the relatives to let them know. Also the vicar and funeral directors as well. Di’s Mum was over to look after the children and Di had taken Daniel to Essex University for the first of his interviews which went well for him. It was a pity that Di had to fight the traffic problems on the way and that she missed Dad passing on. Tonight, Di and I went to go and reassure Mum again as she wanted to see Di. Whilst I was there, the staff buttonholed me and asked that we put Mum somewhere else more suitable. They feel that Weald House is full of elderly and confused people and that Mum now needs some sheltered accommodation with more social facilities etc. Weald House has been fine for Dad in terminal care but…. I got home a little late and then watch some televised Football whilst writing up today’s sad diary.
The news today is of the assassination of the new Lebanese president by car bomb which killed 23 others in the process. It seems that a Conservative ‘stalking horse’ candidate is to stand against Thatcher for the party leadership. More recrimination over the 999 ambulance service with management and ambulanceman blaming each other for a breakdown in the service.