Saying Goodbye to Ivy

Ivy’s home of sixty years embodied her life: her paintings of ocean scenes adorned her walls; the windows opened to lush views of the exotic plants Ivy nurtured over the years, memories of family celebrations echoed in the house. Most of all, Ivy loved her family, and she believed in taking care of the people you love.

During the last months of her life, Ivy’s granddaughter, Theresa, moved in with her family to take care of Ivy, just as she had seen Ivy care for loved ones before her. “We were the center of her life. Now she’s the center of ours.” One of the family’s favorite activities during Ivy’s last weeks was walking on the beach in her beach accessible wheelchair on loan from hospice. Ivy loved the ocean, listening intently as Theresa placed shells in her hands.

“Grandma, do you remember when you used to hunt for shells with me when I was a little girl?”

A week after Ivy’s 93rd birthday, Theresa opened the curtains of Ivy’s bedroom. " What a glorious day.”! She sat down beside Ivy, held her hand and told her grandmother she loved her. And Ivy took her final breath.