9 Feb 2016 #6 Have any of your family members died? If so, explain what they died from and what you remember of their death; the circumstances of their death

Both of my parents have passed on.  

They passed away within 7 months of each other.  

Robert, my dad passed away on 2 November 2004 

and Marie, my mom passed away on 6 June 2005.  

They had not communicated with each other probably for 30 or more years.    

We are lucky to not have to experience much tragedy or death in our family.  

We all count our blessing each day that we all have each other.  

My father passed away of  complications of Septicemia, a ruptured bowel, bowel obstruction.  He was under the care of Gill at their home in Idaho.  He was very ill and laid on the couch for about 5 or 6 days in great pain.  He refused to allow Gill to call the doctor... as least this is what she has told us.  But in a way I believe it as my Dad was that kind of person. No Doctors!! Anyway, he passed out while one of his friends was visiting and that friend told Gill to call an ambulance.  He was admitted to the hospital in a very bad state.  They opened his bowels pumped him full of antibiotics of some kind and let him heal from the inside out.   I can't imagine having a gaping wound as your abdomen tries to heal. He did heal, slightly, but I heard from the nurses he would pull out his feeding tube and IV.  So, he never healed properly.   Louella, Judy and I went to visit him in while in the hospital but he didn't really recognize us.   We had to introduce ourselves to him due to Alzheimers which had progressed to Dementia.  He passed away shortly after our visit.  No funeral.  No goodbyes.  No memories shared or prayers offered.  He was cremated and is buried in his backyard garden in Priest River Idaho.    

These are the last pictures I took of my Dad at Priest River just before he passed away.

My mother had several bouts of cancer through her old age.  The final stage of liver cancer was the ultimate cause of her death. Louella cared for her all the way through her struggles.  She visited her everyday and reported to us every day.  Mom was in and out of the hospital.  We all took turns going to visit her during this trying time.  She was released to her home, with a nursing staff  but she was not able to care for herself at all.  Louella would stop by twice a day but finally had her admitted to a Texoma Hospice Care.  It was a beautiful place but Mom was in and out of consciousness.  The hospice care told us she would pass soon, so Judy and I went to Texas to say goodbye.  It was very hard as you can imagine.  So many regrets, but all we could do is sit by her side and love her.  We went home and in two or three days she passed away in the nght.  It was a blessing as she was in so much pain.  They kept her drugged most of the time.  Louella arranged her funeral.  It was a beautiful graveside service.  There was a Scottish Bagpiper, and several visits from flying dove, bunny rabbits, and of course the "Train".  It was a peaceful beautiful calm day but as they placed her in the ground, the sky grew dark and a huge wind passed over us and almost blowing over the canopy. We all knew without saying a word, it was Mom saying her goodbyes to us.  There are several stories about the bunnies, the dove, and the train that I will share at another time.  

Before Mom went to Hospice, Lou and DD were able to 

give her a High Tea on her British dishes.

  These are the last pictures of Mom at Hospice.  She was in and out of consciousness.

This is our beloved Mothers Graveside in Denison Texas.

One  of the things that my sister told me that really made an impact on my parents passing was, 

"Well we are all orphans now..."  

It hit me like a brick stone.  The Matriarch and the Patriarch were gone... and as well, no boys to pass on the "Twining" name.  I love my parents,  both , each in a very different way.  I hope I can live righteously enough to see them both on the other side of the veil. 

To end this sad affair, my sisters and I have become stronger and closer as these years have gone by.  We are easier to forgive and forget.  We all live in different states-- well even countries, so it is hard to stay connected as much as we would like. Thank goodness for Facebook!  I love my sisters..

We are those "Twining Girls" and will always be!