Last night my mother in law, Jo Ann Labonski, passed away in her sleep. It's sad, her husband Richard is sad, Bren's sad, the whole family is sad - and I'm mentally exhausted (we got the call at 4 am and raced to H.B.).
She was over for Thanksgiving last week and seemed OK (for her). She even went x-mas shopping with her daughters ALL DAY Friday. But that's expected I guess. One of the physical* stages of death is an apparent increase in energy, which is mainly due to the digestive system is shutting down. It often leaves family members confused saying things like "s/he was realy alert, I thought that the worst was behind us".

Growing up I based my impressions of what a mother in law would be like from watching copious amounts of television. I was certain that I was doomed to have Endora (from Bewitched) as my monster in law. About the only thing TV prepared me for was the big orangish-red hair and the thickly lined make up. She was a good person and she will be missed by all that knew her.

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The Plan, as I currently understand it...
The Rosary/wake/viewing is on Thursday afternoon/evening at Dilday Bros
The full catholic Funeral mass will be 10 am Friday morning at St. Bonaventure
And the "Internment" (since when is this the PC term? It sounds like what you do to unlawful combatants) will follow and is scheduled for 1:30 pm(?) at Riverside National Cemetery. Richard is a Vet and he get's a substantial discount - what is it with the Labonski's and coupons, discounts and freebes??
After all that, family and friends will be invited to my place in Yorba Linda (it's on the way back from Riverside off the 91) for grieving/socializing/snacking/depresionreception

Note to self: Invest in Kleenex, or similar brand, Facial Tissue

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*The physical stages of death and dying relate to the changes that the body undergoes as it is shutting down. This is not to be confused with the more popular 5 mental stages the mind goes thru when one learns of approching mortality.