My mom quit smoking at least 20 years before the end too. But she didn't want anyone to see her in the hospital, so we weren't allowed to visit her during that last month. She also had no funeral or obituary either. That was Christmas Day 2015, and some of her older friends still think she's alive.

My dad's got dementia and is in assisted living now. He can't really call anyone and didn't call them before his diagnosis either. Mom did all the finances and Dad knew nothing about that, so he bounced checks for 3 months until I took over his accounts. What a mess! The $1400 in fees and penalties didn't help. Now he's in the black and doesn't know. The con man who screwed him pissed me off too. I went to the authorities and the douche got 18 months. I haven't seen a dime in restitution either. (A sibling would have helped with all of this.)

Mom and Dad both quit school in the 10th grade, but I didn't realize how smart Mom was until I got the account. I wish she had shared more with me so I'd have been more prepared. Everything was on the fly while my wife and I were running our own household. Good thing I'm disabled. A full time job would have been too much during this three-ring circus.