Today I touched her personal things - her reading glasses, her undies, her singlets, her nighties, her toothbrush and other toiletries. I took down photographs off the wall and untaped notes that had been left for the staff. I found little notes given to her by her great grand-daughter and other cards.
We took out all her stuff - plants, silk flowers, garden ornaments that adorned her little patio area, her TV, her bedside lamps. She loved dolls and she loved making dolls - I must have packed away about 6 of them. And wool! She loved to crochet and had produced some amazing work in her time. Her garments were always so beautifully made, she derived a lot of pleasure in making for others.
It didn't take long - after all, it was only one room. But even so - gosh, she had a lot of stuff in there. And why not? It had been her place, her space. And all the while as I was helping to empty her room I felt her presence, her energy, standing by, calmly watching, totally ok with what was happening.
Who was this lady who had allowed me into her space, who'd left us so peacefully the previous day with dignity, surrounded by the love of her family. It was Ellen, lovely sweet Ellen - mum to Di, Rob, Helen, Sue and Pete; Nanna to their children and great Nanna Ellen to their grandchildren.
Today I helped a son and a daughter tenderly gather up their mum's "stuff" to take home - some of it will be kept, some passed on to other family members and some of it will be given away. And each one of those items, whatever it may be, will contain a breath of her energy. She will always be with us.
Rest in peace lovely sweet Ellen.
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