Uncle Joseph dies...

[EMAIL FROM MY MOTHER THE DAY AFTER MY UNCLE’S DEATH.]


"Dear family,

"[We] went to the hospital around 6 last night (Nov 9) after the call from Agincourt House. After waiting for about 10 minutes [emphasis mine], we were told by the attending doctor in the Emergency that Joe had already died.

[An aunt later comments they probably did it this way 'on purpose', so family won't try to have him resuscitated. Her observation indicates that the timing is a bit unusual.]

"His body was in the room across the hall. When we touched his forehead and his shoulders, he was still warm, so death must have occurred within the previous 1/2 hour.

"It could be that Joe's heartbeat was so faint that eventually it just stopped without a clear-cut death time. He looked peaceful, with mouth partially open. We spent some minutes with him, which I appreciated.

"The 3 of us immediately went to the funeral home to make the arrangements.

"Friday Nov 14, 2003, 10 am for viewing, 11 am for a short Catholic service.

................ [snip]


"So our dear Joe will be missed not only by the immediate family, but by some others as well. He had been such a gentle and happy person. love to all, S."