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as long at he was needed, but Isabel needed to return with the children to Florida. The operation would cost $150, not including the hospital, medicines, x-rays and doctors' bills.
They hoped Anne would be able to return to the Maria Joseph Home, and her newly painted room and new mattress.
By Aug. 29, she was still in the hospital-but she rallied and regained her reasoning and had a nice conversation with Vasco and Isabel.
On Sept. 4, 1949-Julie wrote Leah and Louisa that she would pay the medical bills, as she had been putting some aside for that, as she always knew it would eventually be up to her to "foot the bills." Julie was recuperating herself and would lose the movement in her hand whenever she overdid it.
However, she decided to go to Ohio to see her mother.
A Lingering End
On Sept. 10, 1949, Julie wrote from Dayton,
"Irvin and I arrived by plane. Left Havana yesterday. Vasco is here also. Mother sinking fast, no pain, just sleeps, knows nothing. Doctors hold no hope. She may pass on at any minute and may last a week. I am with her all the time also."
Again, on Sept. 14, 1949, Julie wrote:
"Mother is the same, regaining consciousness at times, knows Vasco and I are with her." Anne was strong, but hadn't eaten food or water for a week. "Can't take it even through tubes in nose. No suffering. Very calm and serious. Best of care. Nurse is wonderful. V and I sit here all the time." "It's just a question of time now."
One week later, on Sept. 21, 1949, after a month of suffering, Anne went to her final rest in Dayton, Ohio.
From her book: Cherished Thoughts in Poems and Sketches by Anne L. Presset
LET THE SUNSHINE IN
Roll up the tattered blind, and let the sun's resplendent rays,
Play within our humble cottage, as they did in former days;
They will chase away the shadows, and warm our hearts the while;
For there cannot dwell much sadness, where the merry sun-beams smile.
When the shadows fall across our lives, like a stolid winter gloom,
And fill our hearts with woe, that the sunshine has no room;
Let us battle with adversity, and drive the clouds away;
And make a place within our hearts, for cheerfulness to play.
If we let the blessed sunshine dwell within our frugal cot;
And enter deep into our hearts, God will forget us not.
And when the storms of life be past, and we leave this earthly clay;
We'll rejoice to think we've done our best, in a modest, humble way.
Then put aside the curtain, and let the cheerful morning sun,
Find a place within each human heart, before life's sands are run;
And make the best of every grace, the Lord our God has given;
Perchance we'll find a better place, in the blessed peaceful heaven.
A CLEAR CONSCIENCE
How necessary it is that we all strive for that priceless jewel, a clear conscience. There is nothing that I can think of which needs more care and attention, than our inner selves; and if we want to pride ourselves on cleanliness, this is just where we ought to begin; for if everything around us is clear and clean, and our conscience is neglected and becomes sullied and murky, it is impossible to enjoy any surrounding beauty, no matter how bright and clean it may be.
Therefore our conscience should be our first thought. With that clear and clean, we are in a position to keep everything else in comparison, and my observation teaches me, that neglect of our inner selves causes us to neglect our outer duties. But when we feel bright, clean, and cheerful in that principle department of our spirits, we make all our surroundings, likewise, inasmuch as we possibly can; and we are wont to look at the bright side of life, let its presentation be whatever it will; and to trust in the Lord to keep us from every evil snare. Not only that, we are given to buoy up and comfort others, when they come to us with tales of woe and broken spirits; and to show them the bright side of life, instead of making them feel worse that they really would by our moral despair.
Therefore we see, if we are anxious to fulfill our duty to mankind we are compelled to pay strict attention to ourselves first; for if the light is not in us, it cannot shine forth to those we love, and wish to benefit. Then again, there is another thing to be considered; if our conscience is sullied and gloomy we become fearful that evil is ever trying to overtake us, especially if we have been unjust to our fellow beings, some of them having passed behind the veil, we are apt to think they may sometime return and try to return the compliment and sometimes that feeling becomes so strong, that it makes us perfectly miserable, and I have known instances where it has taken all the sunshine out of lives, that should have been happy.
Anne, in about 1894, around age 40
Nov. 10, 1948, Dayton, Ohio
In front of Vasco's Miami home, 1944
July 30, 1945, Anne at age 91
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