Until the evening of Oct. 17, my mother was living in her own home in Melcher-Dallas. She would have turned 94 this coming January. That evening she became ill and was admitted to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines at about 5 a.m. on Oct. 18.

As my siblings and I sat with her, her condition continued to worsen until on Oct. 20, she lost consciousness. It was then determined that she had experienced two strokes and would not get better.

I made the arrangements for her to enter the Iowa River Hospice House on Oct. 21. While I had kept a “stiff upper lip” throughout her rapid decline, it was very emotional when I saw her in the comfort of the hospice house. Instead of frequent blood draws and other procedures, she was in a comfortable room and receiving the care that was keeping her pain free during the final hours of her life.

Before the hospice house was part of Iowa River Hospice, I had served as a social work consultant to them and then later served on their board of directors. I have thought for a long time that they were a quality organization. Now, I also “feel” they are a quality organization.

My mother died 22 hours after arrival. A short stay before death eased her suffering. I will always be grateful for excellent care she received. Death of a loved one is never easy. I was fortunate to have had my mother in my life for nearly 69 years, that she lived in her own home until the last four days of her life, and that her final hours were spent with the dedicated and caring staff of the Iowa River Hospice House.

Thank you, Iowa River Hospice staff, for the services you provided to my mother and to so many others.