We spent a wonderful night with her and the bishop, sitting in the living room, singing her favorite hymns and talking. We put her to bed around 3:30 am, and said goodbye. In the morning, she wouldn't wake up. Her breathing became more congested and irregular and finally stopped around 1:30 pm.
Services will be held in Bakersfield on Wednesday, May 10th - details to follow.
Fri May 05 2006 16:12 The End is Just the Beginning:
Frances passed away peacefully in her sleep this afternoon.
We have been writing down many of our conversations, and this is what
she said to my mother, Anne: "Nobody has come for me. I have
discovered, this is a pretty big blow for me. I have always been able
to accomplish what I need to by myself. Maybe if you prayed, I could
be strong enough." My mother responded that she's heard a person has
to ask, in order to finally die. At that time, Frances asked that we
invite the bishop to see her. He arrived around 12:30, and sat with
us as we sang hymns to Frances.
We first sang "Redeemer of Israel." Bishop Davis asked, "Do you want
another song?" Frances said yes. Bishop asked "Do you want us to
pick?" She said, "Well, I was just thinking. . ." She paused, and
Bishop said, "That's a dangerous thing to do." There was another
pause. Frances said, "If we sing another song, we'll be out of ammo.
. . I have to do two more." We sang "How Firm a Foundation," Leonard
requested "Master, the Tempest is Raging," "Abide with me 'tis
eventide," and "Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy" (which was sung at
Franny's dh's funeral and at her father's funeral).
After all that singing, we settled Frances into bed, and Bishop Davis
gave her a blessing. He promised her that the veil would become thin,
and she would see all the people there ready to receive her. She
slept all night and all morning, and passed away sometime in between
1:15 and 1:30 when we were out of the room.
She loved her Molly friends. Her room is decorated with cards and
flowers from many of you, and she has been touched with the thoughtful
things that you have sent her and her family.
Here is another conversation from May 4th.
Anne (my mother)"Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo." I'm glad Frances had a good week with us, and she was Franny to the
end. She didn't miss a beat.
![[Comments]](/nb//themes/Default/comments.png "3 comments")
(3) Fri May 05 2006 18:03:
From an email sent by Alyson today to the Molly Bluestocking list:
I have sad news. Frances passed away peacefully today at around
1:30pm. She has had a rough week, beginning on Friday, April the
28th, when her body began rejecting the TPN. She was removed from
that on Sunday, and Hospice came on Tuesday to begin her morphine
medications. Her body became more restful after that, but her mind
refused to slow down. She had been incredibly alert and lucid all
through the week, and last night, at around 12:00 am, she said she
could no longer tolerate the drawn out nature of her dying.
Frances: "Better not go out."
A: "Why?"
F: "Its wild out there. Everybody is crazy. If you have to go out
on a desperate mission to save France, be prepared."
A, teasing: "Maybe you'll die on Cinco de Mayo. Make a lot of commotion."
F: Yes.
A: "But if you wait, you could die on Mother's Day."
F: "That would be a kick in the pants."