My mum died the night before my father’s burial

When my father died, we were devastated. After many weeks of preparation, our family finally travelled to our country home for the burial. The evening before the burial, we held a service of songs / wake keep event for our father. After it and around 9pm, our mum went to bed. As with our customs, someone always stays close to the bereaved person for a period of time so since my father’s death, my aunts took turns to spend the night with my mum in her room.

My siblings and I were still up, trying to go over the last minute arrangements for the burial when around 11pm, we heard my aunt’s alarmed voice coming from my mother’s bedroom.

We rushed to the room and found my aunt shaking my mum, trying to revive her. My brother took over, calling out to her and trying to get her to wake up but she didn’t. We called my cousin, a doctor, and he rushed over immediately to examine her, only to confirm, with a shocked voice, that she had passed away. Just like that and without warning or reason, my mum died.

For about ten seconds, we simply stared at my mum’s lifeless body on the bed. Then, as if a switch was turned on, my aunt and sister screamed out and everyone in the room began to wail. We were yet to get over my father’s death – his burial was in less than twelve hours and now, my mum was dead. What kind of cruel joke was life playing on us?

My mum’s family helped out as they handled all the details concerning my mum so we could concentrate on burying my dad. But that night was the most horrible of my life and I don’t think I’ll ever forget this year; so far, it’s been my worst.