Who will remember?

It's been a long, few years and an even longer few days.  Mom began the final steps of her journey two weeks ago. It began with what was thought to be a tummy bug and ended up being the brain's miscommunication with many of her day to day "internal conversations!" No swallowing on Wednesday and therefor no nutrition and hydration.  Comfort care began in earnest that day. The days passed, day one, two, three, four, five, six. seven..... Then on day eight, the Cheyne-Stokes (rapid breathing for several seconds followed by many seconds of apnea) breathing began. Everyone said this would begin the final hours.  Not for this ole gal... three full days and nights! A hospice nurse I contacted asked me Mom's age. I replied, "95."  She explained that in her experience, the older they were, the harder they fought.  They didn't get to be that old accidentally.  After all, her Mom nearly made 102.
Good byes had been said, gentle allowances had been given to make the trip, great grands had snuggled and kissed her and the adults had explained that the bar was open in heaven and happy hour was under way....She still hung on till she was ready..... what a strong body kept lost memories physically alive!
I went home that night knowing the phone would ring.  I awakened at around 2:10 and about 2:20 the phone rang.  She'd made the trip on her own time and was resting more comfortably than in many years.  I asked the nurse the time of death...... 2:10 a.m.!  No tears, they were all shed throughout the past 5 years and especially the past 10 days.
Yesterday we laid her quietly and snugly between Steve and Dad surrounded by those who loved her most. It was a good day ♥

LOCKE — Virginia Tice Hewitt passed away peacefully on June 1, 2017 at the Groton Community Health Care Center in Groton, N.Y., at the end of a long journey with Alzheimer’s.

Virginia (Ginnie) was born April 21, 1922, and recently celebrated her 95th birthday. She was born in Auburn, N.Y. where she spent her early years. As the Depression set in, her dad, Neil Tice, closed his jewelry store and moved his family to Moravia, N.Y. He opened the first liquor store in the village where it continues to thrive today. Ginnie graduated from Moravia High School and continued her education at the Auburn School of Nursing where she was pinned and received her registered nursing credentials. In 1943, she married her husband of 63 years, Gordon (Buzz) Hewitt. After settling in Locke, N.Y., they raised three children and operated Hewitt Brothers Incorporated until December of 2006.

Ginnie loved golfing at Owasco Country Club, summering at Overbrook on Owasco Lake, wintering in the Florida sunshine, and enjoying every season of football, baseball, and golf in her “perch!”

She was predeceased by her parents, Ruth TenEyck and Neil Comstock Tice; her brother, Neil “Jack” Tice; her son, Stephen Hewitt, and her husband, Gordon (Buzz) Hewitt.

She is survived by her daughters, Christine (Richard) Geyer, of Farmington, N.Y., and Sandra (Lee) Hatfield, of Moravia, N.Y. She leaves five grandchildren, Richelle (Christian) Hargis, Stephen (Emily) Geyer, Jason (Meghan) Geyer, Jeffrey (Lacie) Hatfield, and Jessica Brown. Ginnie’s littlest legacies include her great-grandchildren, Julian and James Hargis, Alexandra and William Geyer, Bennett Geyer, Bailee Brown, and Jett Hatfield.

A private burial will be held at the convenience of the family.

Should friends and family desire, contributions in Ginnie’s memory may be sent to Four Town First Aid, P.O. Box 28, Moravia, NY 13118 or the Locke Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 183, Locke, NY 13092.

Arrangements are with Shurtleff Funeral Home.