My grandma Rosa passed away last night; she drew her last breath at 7:55pm. She was surrounded by her family. We miss her already but we are all very relieved. We think she finally allowed herself to go after hearing the voice of her sister grandma Julieta. Although grandma Rosa was no longer responding to us by that time (and by all accounts was in a morphene-induced numbness) a tear fell from her face as cousin Ray held the phone to her ear for the last time. After that, her breathing diminished, her fingernails grew dark, and her beautiful skin lost it's healthy glow. We thanked her, blessed her, told her we loved her, and encouraged her to go. We prayed a rosary with her before she went, and one again after she died. She was 93 years old.

She is being cremated today. Mass will be held for her at St. Michael's Parish in Olympia at 9am Saturday morning. Please pray for the staff at St. Mike's, as the V********* family is said to be pushy and overbearing, and to compound matters, Rosa's grandson is a music minister who has taken the 'point' for the Mass. After the mass, the family will move to a local Chinese restaurant; details are being negotiated by a pushy aunt.

Rosa's daughter Rosemarie will take the ashes next week to our family plot in Sto. Tomas, La Union, where her remains will rest with her husband Ador and son Adorito.