Later we adjourned to my nephew Anthony's home to watch a comedy show on television.  Laughter was heard throughout the house. I remember walking upstairs to my sister Millicent's home where Mama and I would spend the night.  I remember her telling me that she wanted to go to her own home that night.  I convinced her that we should spend the night at my sister's home because it was rather late and she agreed to do so. It was approximately 11:30 p.m. when Mama arose to go to the bathroom, which was a common practice for her. My sister Millicent was awaken to the sounds of  Mama moaning. She got up and found Mama sitting quietly in the bathroom and she waited to escort her back to the bedroom.  At 12:04  a.m. Mama asked me to give her another pillow so that she could sit up higher and it might help her to breath easier.  She often was out of breath when she walked from one room to another. I propped her up and she reached for me saying she did not think she was going to make it.  She immediately started to pray and asked God to forgive her for any sins that she may have offended anyone in life.  She asked me to sing "Precious Lord Take My Hand", and I held her in my arms trying to give her absolute comfort with soothing words and loving care and asking God not to take my Mama away from me.  I remember restraining myself in order not to alarm her any further, so I simply held her in my arms, rocking her, singing to her and praying with her.  I finally came out of the trance after a few minutes, knowing that she was at the end of God's journey for her and called out quietly to my sister to come and get help. The ambulance rushed her to the hospital but she never was revived. Waiting for the doctors to advise us about her condition seemed like a lifetime, and finally they came to say that she was pronounced dead at 1:37 a.m. (12/26/01) after they did all they could to revive her.  Mama passed quietly and graciously in death just as she lived - with dignity and grace. She did not suffer, but those last few minutes of her life will stay with me forever. We’ve never seen God with the visible eye, But to know He exists just look at the sky. The sunrise and sunset, so colourfully bright; The moon and the stars, as they glisten by night - His handiwork is seen in the sea and on land; Such majestic splendor by His own hand. How could we ever begin to doubt, With these glorious sights as we look about. Our God is real, it’s plain to see, And He reaches down our guide to be, Keeping us on the narrow way, As we humbly walk with Him each day. He is the Shepherd of our soul, Throughout our life, both young and old, And at the end we can surely say - Our God was with us all the way, Guiding us into his glory above To live forever in His great love. The beauty of His face we then shall see, As we dwell with Him through eternity. I will always cherish my Mother’s life on earth. I had always wanted to present my Mother with the gift of her Native American heritage. She was a Bermudian Pequot of St. David’s Island and always was proud of her ancestry. Over the past year before her death, I was able to share some of this information with her and she was delighted to know of her heritage. This I pledge to you Mama – I will continue to pursue with my research and bring the New England Pequot Indians together with the Bermudian Pequot Indians. The spirits will guide me. We are not alone in this struggle, and it will come to pass. Our family asks for strength for today and comfort in the days ahead, knowing how much our loved one meant to so many. “Shared times, shared memories, shared joys – these special things keep a loved one close.” Jean Foggo Simon