carbonel: (Farthing photo)
carbonel ([personal profile] carbonel) wrote2014-02-06 09:25 pm
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Howard Friedman, 1932-2014

My father died this afternoon. As I'd said earlier, he had been in poor health for years, and took a very bad turn a week ago last Monday. He'd been declining a little more every day since then, and I was with him for this last week.

We'd been able to take care of him at the apartment in Boca Raton until last night, but this morning (Thursday), we decided that an in-hospital hospice unit was the best option. The hospice people were wonderful. The visiting nurse arranged the transfer within an hour, the ambulance came and took him there, and the volunteer took us to the family room while his primary care nurse got him settled in.

At that point, we were proceeding on the assumption that while he was definitely dying, it would take a while. My mother talked about bringing a needlepoint tomorrow to work on. I was going to fly back to Minneapolis, and my brother was going to fly in Boca to keep my mother company.

The last post (which was f-locked) ended rather abruptly, because as I was typing it, his breathing changed. He started having periods where he wasn't breathing. Gradually those got longer, and after about 10 minutes, he stopped breathing altogether. My mother and I were at his bedside, and it was very peaceful. Even though he was only at the hospice unit for just over two hours, I'm glad we transferred him there. They took care of everything.

Tomorrow, my mother and I are flying back to Chicago. (We managed to catch my brother on his way to the airport, just in time to change plans. Sometimes I love cell phones.) The funeral will be on Monday at 2 pm, and there will be three days of shiva (yes, I have enough Hebrew to know that's a contradiction in terms). I'll be flying back to Minneapolis on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

My thanks to everyone who posted messages of support during this time.
burnishedvictory: (Shelter - <3 - hug)

[personal profile] burnishedvictory 2014-02-07 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss.

*sends so many hugs*

[identity profile] mrissa.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry for your loss.
laurel: Picture of Laurel Krahn wearing navy & red buffalo plaid Twins baseball cap (candle animated)

[personal profile] laurel 2014-02-07 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so very sorry for your loss. I was about to post a comment on the other message about how good it was you got him to hospice when I saw this. Still a good thing you got him there.

[identity profile] ritaxis.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
Condolences.

Condolences

[identity profile] eileenlufkin.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss.

[identity profile] fgherman.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
Sending all my love. May his memory be a blessing.

[identity profile] dreamshark.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad it was peaceful, that everyone was there, and that you decided to take advantage of the hospice services when your family really needed them. Hospice is wonderful.
jazzfish: Jazz Fish: beret, sunglasses, saxophone (Default)

[personal profile] jazzfish 2014-02-07 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
My condolences.

[identity profile] catalenamara.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss. {{{hugs}}}

[identity profile] kalmn.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
May his memory be a blessing.

[identity profile] quility.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry for your loss. I'm glad the Hospice was able to help you during this difficult time.

[identity profile] mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
Condolences.
ext_73228: Headshot of Geri Sullivan, cropped from Ultraman Hugo pix (Indian Pipe)

[identity profile] gerisullivan.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Sympathy. May his memory be a blessing.

B&K gave me the sad news over dinner, which eased the way for reading it here. Even when you know it's coming, it's different when it's real. I'm glad hospice was so responsive today, that you had their support, and that your father's passing was peaceful.

May your flight to Chicago be smooth, and may the coming hours and days treat you all as gently as possible.
snippy: Lego me holding book (Default)

[personal profile] snippy 2014-02-07 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Baruch dayan emet. May his memory be a blessing.
pameladean: chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly (Libellula julia)

[personal profile] pameladean 2014-02-07 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry.

P.
naomikritzer: (Default)

[personal profile] naomikritzer 2014-02-07 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry.

[identity profile] james-nicoll.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
My condolences.
ckd: two white candles on a dark background (candles)

[personal profile] ckd 2014-02-07 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
May you and yours find comfort.

[identity profile] mgs.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry for your loss

[identity profile] helenraven.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so sorry. Well done for finding the right words about hospice.

[identity profile] fmsv.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
Laura and I are sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing.

Condolences

[identity profile] lsanderson.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
My condolences.

[identity profile] arkessian.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry for your loss, but glad it was peaceful at the end and you found the right words at the right time to help it be so.

[identity profile] moonlightmead.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
Sorry to hear this, but glad to know that you were able to be there.
ext_6283: Brush the wandering hedgehog by the fire (Mrs Tiggywinkle)

[identity profile] oursin.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 08:48 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry for your loss - condolences, and good thoughts for you all.

[identity profile] swan-tower.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
Condolences to you and all your family.

[identity profile] lukadreaming.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 09:37 am (UTC)(link)
Very sorry for your loss.

[identity profile] txanne.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 11:19 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry for your loss.

[identity profile] msmoat.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 11:30 am (UTC)(link)
I am sorry for your loss, and yet so glad for the peaceful passing, and that you and your mother had so much wonderful help. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[identity profile] papersky.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 01:00 pm (UTC)(link)
May his memory be a blessing.
ext_5457: (Default)

[identity profile] xinef.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
So sorry for your loss. Glad you could be there.

[identity profile] 1crowdedhour.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
redbird: closeup of me drinking tea, in a friend's kitchen (Default)

[personal profile] redbird 2014-02-07 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry.

[identity profile] sartorias.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I am very sorry for your loss, but glad everything was peaceful.

[identity profile] drewan.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Beth, you and your family have our condelences.

[identity profile] barondave.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Hamakom yenachem etchem b'toch she'ar avelai Tziyon Vi'yerushalayim.

Condolences. I'm glad the timing worked out for you to be there.

[identity profile] elisem.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I am very sorry for your loss.

Glad the hospice people were so good, and that he went gently.

[identity profile] sillylilly-bird.livejournal.com 2014-02-07 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so very sorry for your loss. But I am so very glad that you were able to find the words for your mom and that the hospice was so good and close.
aedifica: Picture of a large book and a candle sitting on a table in an otherwise dark room (Religious studies)

[personal profile] aedifica 2014-02-08 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
May his memory be a blessing.

[identity profile] minnehaha.livejournal.com 2014-02-08 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Am late to this post, I did know how it was, and I was glad you were there for both your parents during the last days of your father's life. You have always impressed me with your ability to face uncomfortable things with a sturdy heart and I am sure that your mom relied on that, and still does.

Hugs and comfort to you and yours.

K.
kaffy_r: The TARDIS says hello (Ice and the stars)

[personal profile] kaffy_r 2014-02-08 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
My thoughts are with you. I am so very glad you were able to be with him at the end. May your memories of him bring you peace.

[identity profile] smofbabe.livejournal.com 2014-02-08 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Sorry for your loss - may his memory be for a blessing.

*hugs*

[identity profile] dlandon.livejournal.com 2014-02-12 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
And condolences. I'm glad that you were able to be there.

- D