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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To feel as slighted and hated following my mother's death, as I did by her in life.

154 replies

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 01/05/2019 10:48

Last November, I posted asking if IWBU to cut my mum out of my life, despite the fact that she might die soon, due to her alcoholism. Not one person who replied said IWBU, which made me feel less harsh.

The thread is here: AIBU

Long story short, I had an abusive childhood mainly at the hands of her second husband, which caused a breakdown and 10 years of depression for me, the whole time my mum saying I was exaggerating and attention-seeking, then in 2003 she started drinking after a relationship breakdown and became alcoholic, losing her job and home in the process. Her alcoholism made our relationship even worse, the booze made her really nasty.

Anyway, I was still no contact with my mum last week, when she was found dead in her bed. Her liver had finally packed up.

It's been a rollercoaster of a week. I am physically and mentally exhausted. I have no family locally, so I am trying to muddle through this on my own to a certain degree. My younger brother has travelled down twice to help with bits and bobs, but he's self-employed and not able to just drop everything as he won't get paid. My older brother was no contact with mum too, so I have only seen him once and he travelled for me, rather than for mum, if that makes sense.

I have an amazing supportive partner, friends and work, which is brilliant. But I am feeling so mixed-up, scared and angry right now.

I am angry that I never had a 'coventional' mother-daughter relationship and that I never will have, I feel that I wasn't loved as she put her ex-husband and the alcohol before me and I actually feel cheated as I imagined I would get time to make some kind of peace with her on her death bed.

On top of all this, I now have to find £3k for her funeral. She took out a policy a couple of years ago, when we had a huge row about her drinking and I said she was fucking selfish drinking herself to death, especially leaving me and my younger brother with no means to pay for a funeral.

So I found the plan, submitted the claim last week and although they haven't reached a decision, I know they won't pay out, as I found a summary of her application and she lied on every single bastard question, including how many units she drank per week.

The stress has made me ill, my blood pressure is through the roof, my heart rate really high and my heart is skipping beats. I can't eat, can't sleep, feel constantly on edge and have been having hysterical breakdowns. I know it's all grief, but I feel like I am going mad.

I have been practical and gone to my GP, he's given me tablets. I also have a counselling session booked tomorrow, as I know I need help.

The one thing they can't help with is I just feel sick with worry about the funeral costs. £3k is the basic funeral. My mum has no property, no savings, all the gold jewellery I bought her over the years is missing, and despite her being on benefits, the DWP have said I'm not entitled to any social fund grant, as my brother and I don't claim any benefits ourselves.

My family don't have a pot to piss in either. So like when she was alive and we were talking, it's all left to me to clear up her shit after her and doing all the running around.

It's like she is making me sick with worry and did it on purpose, just to fuck me up a little bit more from beyond the grave, I feel so angry towards her.

Self-pity isn't usually my M.O, but at the moment I can't see any way out of the situation.

OP posts:
GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 01/05/2019 20:05

@LilyMumsnet I have just messaged you all mine, my mum's and the funeral director details, should you wish to look into it any further.

OP posts:
Armadillostoes · 01/05/2019 20:07

Hi OP-How would it be if you gave it over to the Council to do a closed funeral, but asked for a religious minister to do a little service for you separately, without the body? Any decent minister of any faith would waive their fee for a family who genuinely could not pay.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 01/05/2019 20:12

Don't worry OP - they get some massive chancers on here, so they have to do the standard warning. Nobody really thinks it applies in your case.

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 01/05/2019 20:19

@Tawdrylocalbrouhaha thank you. Flowers

I guess I get why people would naturally be suspicious. But I've sent the mods my personal details, some of my social media is public and open for my work, as I do a sort of 'in the public' type of job, so it's pretty transparent and I'd easily ruin my career in a heartbeat if I was involved in any scandal.

As I say, I'm only here for advice and support and I've received it, for which I'm grateful for.

I'm going to speak to my family this weekend, which is when I should have heard back from the insurance company. If it's a no, as I suspect, then I know for sure and the family will need to try and help me.

OP posts:
checkingforballoons · 01/05/2019 21:00

I haven’t got any advice to add OP but I’ll eventually be facing similar circumstances. I just wanted to echo previous posters and tell you to be kind to yourself x

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 01/05/2019 21:06

@checkingforballoons I'm so sorry for you. Hope you have the support you need when it's needed. Flowers

OP posts:
poobumwee · 01/05/2019 21:17

Op so sorry for your loss, although it feels as if your mum was never truly present for you. So many confusing emotions to work through quite understandably. Please don't get yourself into debt. Ask for help from your family and siblings. It should not fall to you to sort all this out and fund it all. Take care of yourself.

Supersimpkin · 01/05/2019 21:24

Talk to the local church. A decent vicar will do you a memorial service for free.

Do the basic cremation, then ask people to a drink after the memorial service.

Evidencebased · 01/05/2019 21:24

I'm sorry you're having a hard time.

Have to go out, and sorry I haven't read much of the thread, but talk things through with these guys before making any funeral decisions:

quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/down-earth

VanGoghsDog · 01/05/2019 22:09

@SoupDragon

What I said is true of funeral plans, it's just paying in advance for your funeral. But OP had confirmed it's not a funeral plan anyway.

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 04/05/2019 17:10

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update you.

I had my first bereavement counselling session which helped.

I also bit the bullet and send up a Go Fund Me yesterday lunchtime, I was very embarrassed to 'beg' to people I know, but had no choice.

So get this, my wonderful friends have donated almost £3k in 24 hours. Along with sending the kindest of messsges. Which has totally blown me away. I've never felt more loved and supported in my entire life and it's truly humbled me. I've been in floods of tears, but in a good way.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted, so now the financial stress has gone, I can concentrate on the practicalities of organising the service, sorting mum's flat and grieving.

Thank you to you all for the helpful responses and lovely words too. x

OP posts:
Mix56 · 04/05/2019 18:24

That is fabulous news.

Wasywasydoodah · 04/05/2019 19:49

Direct cremation, then talk to the local vicar to see if they will do a service with ashes present. If you explain the cost and complexity of the family issues then I suspect the service will not cost much at all.

Wasywasydoodah · 04/05/2019 19:50

Sorry, cross post. Fab update! You must be very well loved by your friends!

juneau · 04/05/2019 21:20

That's a lovely update OP. I'm so glad you have managed to resolve this situation without getting into debt, and while also giving your 'D'M the send off you want to. What lovely friends you have!

Rarotonga · 04/05/2019 21:40

I'm so sorry for all you have had to go through OP, best wishes to you. I hope the counselling is a helpful process and you reach peace in your heart.

I was going to suggest reaching out to friends etc but have just seen your latest update and have seen you have done so. I recently donated to a lovely guy I know in similar circumstances, who also raised enough for his mum's funeral. There are a lot of kind people out there who are happy to help people they care for.

Wishing you and your siblings peace Flowers

Hearhere · 04/05/2019 21:57

What a brilliant outcome I'm so pleased 😊

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 04/05/2019 22:35

Thanks everyone. It's humbled me by how much people care.

I've had people I've not seen in 25 years donate, plus friends of friends I've never met too.

I'm just overwhelmed by kindness and a few friends said it was what I 'deserved due to how much I consistently do for others'... Which was incredibly touching.

Despite my relationship with my mum, I did and do want to give her a beautiful send off.

Oh and my nan asked my aunt to ask me to take the fundraiser down (no idea why, pride maybe?), But I politely refused as my little brother and I agreed that despite it feeling like begging and the fact that we are proud as well, we didn't really have a choice.

In the unlikely event that I do get anything out of insurance, I will pay everyone back.

So thank you again, healthy fire back in my belly and the anger has subsided. x

OP posts:
Rock4please · 04/05/2019 23:07

So pleased that you had a good outcome OP.

Regarding the insurance policy, if they avoid the policy on the basis that your mum lied to them on the application form, they will have to refund the premiums. Technically, it will be ‘void ab initio’ for ‘material non-disclosure’.

Wishing you all the best and hopefully you will find peace. The limbo between death and funeral is always the worst part, even where relationships were good.

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 04/05/2019 23:12

@Rock4please thanks for that. I will certainly try for that refund. I've still got to find £550 for the interment, plus a stone. She wasn't of sound mind when she completed her application.

OP posts:
FrenchBoule · 04/05/2019 23:41

OP, hat off to you.
You don’t owe your mother anything
The family with “needs”, “wants” and the other demands and requirements can bugger off.
You’ve had enough burden of your mother when she was alive, did anybody from the family step in to lessen it and help you?
Well done for doing the fundraiser, the genuine cause and lovely friends.
Big hug to you, so sorry for the lack of decent parent(speaking from experience).
Be strong.

namechange123779 · 04/05/2019 23:49

The insurance company may still pay out as they don't normally like possible negative press, you could also arrange a payment plan hope you can get something sorted xxx alcohol is a terrible drug, I'm so sorry for everything you have been through 💐

ssd · 05/05/2019 00:00

Am so pleased for you and the support you have had op, you must genuinely be a lovely person, despite what your mum did to you or was like, you have overcame what she was and you've became the person you are due to you and you only. Hats off to you Flowers and please don't let her have a stranglehold on you any further, she was what she was, she wasn't the mum you should have had but you've became the person you are despite everything.
Be proud of yourself and hold your head high from now on.

ssd · 05/05/2019 00:02

X post FrenchBoule!!

Isadora2007 · 05/05/2019 00:41

Your fund me thing is about you and your brothers and what people think of you and your resilience and decent human natures in wanting to do this for the woman who should have given you so much but instead failed you in so many ways. I hope you can find the closure you would like and that you deserve and that the funeral goes well for you all. Flowers