Great, comforting death scenes from novels

In February 2017, my beloved Dad passed away quite unexpectedly. He'd been ailing with one thing or another for some time, so his death was on the distant horizon, but still felt quite sudden to us all when it came. Earlier that week, he'd tumbled over at home. Mum couldn't manage to help him up, so she called an ambulance, and the medics decided to take him to hospital, where he really didn't want to go. Her last glimpse of him was being wheeled out the door pleading, 'No, not the hospital!' 

He was kept under observation for a few days and given the all-clear to return home the following Monday. But on Saturday morning, we received news that he'd had a sudden massive heart attack. We all rushed from different places to get to him, and my carload got to the hospital first. After navigating the maze of corridors, we made it to the ward just ten minutes after his official time of death. The nurse told me, 'I'm so sorry,' and it felt surreal.   

She had been with him until the end, and assured us that when she asked if he was in pain, he replied no. And his speech was legible almost until his final breath. The others trickled in as we were speaking. My brother and his family had been to get Mum, a couple of other nephews caught a taxi, and our sister was living far away in Cairns at the time. 

It was such an emotional morning, losing someone who'd been a fixture our entire lives, but I couldn't shake the impression that he probably knew what was happening every minute. Although he'd resisted being taken to hospital, he wouldn't have wanted to die at home and have Mum walk in and discover him. He was a devoted Dad and Papa, but always shied away from appearing vulnerable or being the centre of attention. A stoic worry-wort is what he was. I've no doubt he would have been distressed beyond measure to see our faces surrounding him in those last moments. Quietly sliding to the next world from somewhere other than home, ten minutes before we arrived would have suited him to a tee.

 I know nothing about final passage phenomenons beyond what I've read. The research of experts in the field of near death experiences, such as Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Raymond Moody and John Burke has always intrigued me.  In several ways, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some orchestration or pulling of strings to suit Dad's wishes might have come into play. Of course we couldn't ask him, but knowing him as well as we did, several of his boxes seemed to be ticked.

Since Dad's death, my middle-aged mortality has been more in my mind than ever. (In fact, see this reflection here for more.) I don't want to waste a minute of time or be needlessly moody any more, because our days are all numbered, and our number will be up some day. I have no idea what that moment will be like, but our recent experience with Dad actually gives me some hope that it may be gentler and more welcome than we might imagine. Here are some favourite death scenes from novels that have struck a chord with me. They all possess some comforting commonality. We can only hope their authors were drawing from something vast and true.     

1) Anne of the Island

As a kid, I found poor Ruby Gillis' death from consumption confronting and scary. She was only in her early twenties, and wanted so badly to marry her sweetheart and start a family. Deep down, Ruby knew the truth her family and friends were hiding from her. Her days on earth were dwindling rapidly. At last she faces facts and confides to Anne her great fear that she'll feel frightfully homesick and out of her element in heaven, because it won't be what she's used to. Her heart is still set on things of earth, and she resents being torn away to the next world way before she's ready. Wow, heavy stuff!

With a stroke of insight, Anne describes her strong belief that heaven will be a comfortable extension of our current lives in which we can continue being ourselves, but just minus all the the hindrances and annoyances that dog our mortal footsteps. A few days later Ruby dies in her sleep with a smile on her face, 'as if death has come as a kindly friend to lead her over the threshold' instead of the terror she feared. (See my review of the whole book.)

2) Watership Down

Hazel, the leader of the group of rabbits, has grown old and slow, and feels the cold a lot. One day he wakes from his regular doze to find a rabbit with faintly glowing ears waiting beside him. The stranger says he knows Hazel has been feeling very tired lately, but he can do something about that if Hazel is willing. It suddenly dawns on our friend that his visitor is none other than El-Ehrairah, the hero rabbit from their favourite legends. 

As they hop out the burrow, it seems to Hazel that 'he will not be needing his body any more.  'So he leaves it lying on the edge of the ditch, but stops for a moment to get used to the extraordinary feeling of strength and speed flowing through him.' It's a beautiful reward for someone who has come to the end of a long, faithful and productive life. How gentle and happily surprising his exit was. (My review in its entirety is here.)

3) In This House of Brede

The setting is a convent full of nuns. Beloved Dame Emily has been old and sick for several years, and is now 'frail as spun glass.' As the others keep vigil, Dame Philippa senses that something wonderful is happening. 'The world seemed to be filled with expectancy of something tremendous, just out of sight, waiting for Dame Emily.' The impression gets thicker that all around her is 'a joyful kind of window through which had she the eyes she could have looked straight into heaven. But it's only the dying or the very holy who have eyes like that.' 

Indeed, when Emily passes away, Philippa sees a bird soaring to the sky at the exact same moment. It's an awesome picture of something we find threatening and fearful being turned on its head. That day death presents itself at Brede as the triumphant finish line of a great victorious journey. (See my review.) 

4) Death Comes for the Archbishop

The novel's title sounds ominous, but as we read we come to understand that it indicates a final prize of gold medal status. The looming appointment does catch up with main character Father Latour, but only in his twilight years. After catching a bit of a chill while out on his rounds, he realises that it will be his final illness. He lies in bed, facing his demise in a super-reflective and peaceful state of mind. 'I shall not die of cold, my son,' he tells his young protege. 'I shall die of having lived.' One thing I've taken away from this great book is the great anticipation and relish with which Father Latour faces death. (My review is here.) 

Whew, some blog posts are harder to write than others, and that was one of them. But the theme for this list kept playing in my mind, so had to be done. Have you any great or comforting death scenes from novels or stories to add to mine?