She suffered from Alzheimer's for more than ten years and Judy and I learned more about the disease than we ever wanted to know. In the last few weeks she could no longer speak or hold up her head or walk, and sat in a wheelchair by the front door of the nursing home clutching a large baby doll, in a kind of dream state as though she was just waiting to leave.
She is finally free and we both are relieved for her, in spite of our own feelings of loss.
Judy will scatter her ashes at a nearby lake where they used to go to feed the ducks. No services are planned and we're asking all who would send flowers to instead donate to the Alzheimer's Foundation and their local Hospice in her name.
P.S. My mother adored cats. I've been asked to start a Facebook page for cats as I did for dogs, and now it's up, dedicated to Mom. San Carlos Loves Cats. She'd have loved it.