Helen Hayes (1929-2011)
Mum had been very frail for sometime. Fortunately the nursing home phoned me on Sunday afternoon to warn me that her condition was deteriorating rapidly. I flew out to Dublin from Southampton that night and drove straight down (ignoring speed limits), arriving at the home at 11.45pm. She passed away 90 mins. later. I feel privileged to have been there with her. It was the least thing we could do after she had lived her life so totally for others. Just before she died she opened her eyes at me. I prayed with her and talked to her, blessed her with holy water, kissed her on the forehead and as I did so she stopped breathing. It was so beautiful. At last she was at peace after so much suffering.
