Update on Aunt Gerda

(From Joe Haynie)

Dear family,
First a status. Mom continues to sleep deeply around the clock. This is her sixth day without food or water (she can't swallow) but thus far her breathing and heart-rate continue as normal. She seems very peaceful and doesn't appear to be in pain. My research online says that human beings normally don't live more than 3-5 days without water. However, I have heard of exceptions (typically people with large body mass to begin with). Mom has already lived beyond the normal limit.

Now as to the funeral plans. We had decided to hold the funeral on a Friday to be adjacent to the weekend (to help travellers be gone fewer work days). However, that meant the funeral would be either September 5th or 12th and with the uncertainty about the time of mom's death it's possible that the 5th would be too soon, but the 12th seemed too far away. Also, in order to get resonable prices some people were starting to buy tickets. Consequently I polled most of the family and talked to dad and we agreed on the following:
The funeral will be held on either a Monday or a Friday (with viewings the night before and the morning of)
No matter when she passes away we won't hold the funeral sooner than Septemer 8th (a Monday)
Consequently the funeral will be either Monday September 8th (I believe this is the most likely), Friday September 12th, Monday September 15th etc. depending on when she passes away. Some of the travellers have already decided to take the chance and buy tickets to be here for the 8th in order to get cheaper fares.

Just wanted everyone to know the latest to help in any travel decisions.