January 8, 2018. My dad, Bruno Strauss, died quickly and quietly Monday morning.
On January 4th, he wrote his sons a shorter version of his annual "Health & Wealth Letter" about his state of affairs. He mentioned two heart attacks in December and two occurances of chest pain already in January, each lasting a bit more than an hour.
On January 8th, his wife Inge did a couple of errands and then called him around 10:30am to say she was returning. He didn't answer the phone. On returning home, she found him sitting, slumped over. She called 911, and they asked her to check for signs of life. There were none.
He had made arrangements for his body. I don't know the details, but with a simple call to 1-800-Neptune, they'd take it away and not even return ashes.
Mom and he had been married 66 years.
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When Dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons a couple of decades ago, he prepared for a swift end. When it stopped getting worse he got used to it, but he stayed prepared. Over the years, age and spinal problems took their toll. He was concerned, as many are, about possible stroke or dementia and wore a DNR (Do not resuscitate) bracelet.
When his best friend, Inge's brother Mannie, died a few years earlier, his wife Karen held a big gathering. It was a beautiful tribute and a good party. Dad remarked that it was a shame Mannie wasn't there.
So we held a Celebration of Life for Dad in July, 2016 with sons and families. I didn't go up for his 90th birthday party in November, but many people were there..
My wife and I spent 2 weeks with him and mom during their annual trip to Maui in February, 2017. At the end, he told us it would be his last time there. But mom agreed to try once more, so it's arranged.
In October he had a fainting spell and a brief stay in the hospital. We had a conversation about whether he should refuse medicine, and also food and water. He he considered it. He decided he still enjoyed eating and drinking. And music and drama and spending time with wife, family and email. He opted for medication.
I went up for his 91st birthday in November, a small affair.
I was looking forward to one last vacation with my parents. Now I am looking forward to seeing mom in Maui in February. Bob and Cindy will be with her for a week. Then Leah and I arrive...
-Randy, January 9, 2018