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Bereavement

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Death of an abuser (trigger) we feel nothing.

27 replies

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 30/10/2019 09:13

Abusive grandparent who had no reason to be abusive (cushy life living off what he could abuse people for, manipulate, steal from. It didn't matter whoever they were etc) never happier unless hands and knees crawling drunk (no trigger for this just liked alcohol) for 60 plus years. Only stopped drinking when he broke his elbow whilst 8 times over the drink drive limit and he lost his nerve to go out and we wouldn't take him it.

We were emotionally blackmailed into being carers for him by social service social worker who told us we had a duty of care to him despite knowing the past and us not wanting to care for him or be involved for valid reasons of past physical, emotional and mental abuse . She lied to our faces and threatened us with the police insisting we could not walk away as we wanted to and we believed her at the time and cowtowed for further abuse. This has since been dealt with after a complaint once the care home he was finally accepted into (after the stress and upset caused me to have a heart attack 6 years later in mid twenties and has left my mum disabled through the sheer work load and stress from the age of 58) told us she had lied.

After a further horrendous 7.5 years whilst he was at the care home (6 managers in this time and lots of problems) he died yesterday in the early hours. I was present and was the one with him at the home as he passed (he was unconscious the entire time). I felt nothing as he went (even when I had to go get carer to come confirm it for me), nothing as the nurse came to certify it and take my details, nothing whist they were telling me they were sorry. I chatted quite happily with them and the staff until I could finally go home.

Its now just under 30 hours later and my mum and I aren't sad or upset, nor have we shed tears. We have actually celebrated in our own little way. We are cheerful and happy. Our wider family accept this and why and noone has put us down for this (at least not to our faces). The care home staff are the only ones who have shown any sadness or shed any tears. (due to staff turn over there are no staff who knew him as angry and active man he was when he arrived, they only know the little man he became who would smile at them and kiss their hands and let them hug him etc (though he did become violent agsin in last 6 months)

His death is to be certified today in just under 2 hours and then I shall be posting letters to the various people who need telling with the certified copies (letters that we actually prepared the week before knowing he was so poorly and had created in advance of his death to make this easier)

Is this going to hit us? Or are we just on quiet acceptance and this is how it will always be? I know its not my usual default as when my incredible dad and gran passed I was in bits and destroyed each time and I still feel the dagger in the heart each time even now.

Are we bad people for not being upset?

OP posts:
CallmeBadJanet · 30/10/2019 09:19

Nope

nzborn · 30/10/2019 09:19

No, and I'm glad its all over for you both.

isitpossibleto · 30/10/2019 09:21

Nope. Not at all.

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 30/10/2019 09:22

Thank you very much, that means a lot ❤️

People who I've had to tell keep telling me they're sorry and I sort of feel alien for just a polite smile and thank you whilst thinking 'why? I'm not'

OP posts:
MrsMozartMkII · 30/10/2019 09:27

He was horrible and made your lives hell.

Whilst a parade might be out of order, your responses sound perfectly fine.

Have a hug. For you and for surviving to get to live your lives.

maslinpan · 30/10/2019 09:27

You are definitely not bad people! He sounds horrific. You may both be feeling a bit numb now, you might have an emotional reaction when you are least expecting it, but it could be one of euphoria or one of grief for the toll he took on your lives. But don't feel bad that there are no tears, a bereavement like this is not going to be straightforward.

runwithme · 30/10/2019 09:29

Massive hugs to you and your mum, and all those affected by that wicked person.x

Gingaaarghpussy · 30/10/2019 09:59

Nope.
My mother was a very selfish, emotionally absent parent, when she died after a long illness, I was happy. I no longer had to put myself through difficult situations because she adored my son. I didn't even go to her funeral. I don't think the rest of the family has ever forgiven me for it.
When you are subjected to horrendous behaviours it's a huge weight off your shoulders when they go. I will never feel guilty for being happy that my mother died, I even asked a counsellor about it and they told me it was ok to feel that way.
I have also been known to actually say "why? I'm not" to those who say they're sorry.
Do not feel guilty for being happy.

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 30/10/2019 10:13

Thank you very much you lovely people. You are actually helping me feel more human more than you realise.

Gingaaa, I'm so sorry for what you had to go through too. Very strange feeling isn't it. Hope yiu and little legs are doing well ❤️

OP posts:
autumnboys · 30/10/2019 10:56

I’m glad it’s over for you and your Mum. I think it’s normal to feel nothing but relief in these circumstances.

StoatofDisarray · 30/10/2019 10:58

Not unreasonable at all! All the best to both of you, and I hope you enjoy yourselves from now on Flowers

PlasticPatty · 30/10/2019 11:13

No, you're not bad, and no it won't necessarily hit you later.

My mother has been dead five years, and just this morning I was talking with adult dd and saying I don't miss my mother much, I'm never sorry she died etc (she was old and ill but even so, you'd think there'd be some sense of loss).

Dd said of her grandma 'That's because she was an epic cunt!'
And she was.

You'll be fine. I'm sorry the SW tricked you into service you should have been released from.

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 30/10/2019 13:26

Thank you very much everyone.

He's all registered now and it's all official. All letters have been sent off and theres nothing else we can do now but rest at home.

He's now even in another town across the water for a direct cremation. They will sprinkle his ashes over there too at their crem so other than paying the bill we are done and free.

I went to the sainsburys local around the corner from the registry office and was found in there by one of the care home staff. She was in floods of tears and embraced me and kept saying over and over again how sorry she was. Was a lot awkward to be honest with you all , she's more upset than any family member! No family member has shed as much as a tear but five staff have!

Thank you all for your support , it truly had helped me make sense of my head. I'm sorry that you were in a similar position patty ❤️hope all is good with you and yours now xx

OP posts:
MrsMozartMkII · 30/10/2019 19:45

They'll have only known the frail old man. They won't have seen the evil within.

Onwards lass.

wheresmymojo · 30/10/2019 20:01

Glad this thread has helped. I shall add to the chorus of people saying you don't need to feel anything.

My father died a very drawn out, painful and horrible death alone.

Which is exactly what a lot of people will have hoped for over the years including me.

The only things I felt were:

  1. It did bring back to my attention how little of a normal father/daughter relationship we had and I felt a sense of sadness that I'd never had that
  1. A lot of relief and peace that I'd never get any of his hateful rambling emails again or have to keep my address secret for fear of him turning up.

That was it. It turned out in his will he'd specified that I was not to get anything nor be involved in his funeral at all (fine by me). This was good foresight on his part as if I'd have been given his ashes I was planning on shitting on them and flushing them down the toilet.

...and no, I'm not usually crude or cruel, it was more than deserved as he was a vile, abusive man.

wheresmymojo · 30/10/2019 20:02

So yeah...you don't need to feel guilty...at least you weren't planning to shit on your Dad's ashes!

Not sorry.

user1471453601 · 30/10/2019 20:18

My cousin died a few years ago. He was a terrible person. I went to his funeral because my sister wanted to go to support the deceased brother.

I disliked him. I didn't feel any remorse. A shit is a shit, dead or alive.

Get on with you life, you may mourn the relationship you could have had, had he been different. But he wasnt. His choice

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 30/10/2019 20:38

Thank you so much everyone, you are so kind and have really helped.

Mojo, it sounds like even shitting on him would have been too good for him, I'm so sorry for what you had to go through. What a horrendous time!

I did end up having to go out to post another letter back - something about an application for cremation and preliminary form about the cremation that was sent after I'd gotten home.

But!!! I did come home via Wilkos having bought one of their supersize tubs of pick and mix for £2 whilst the half price offer is on for me and my mum tomorrow to enjoy whilst we watch the new Nativity 4 DVD that we've been looking forward to since we saw it at the cinema last year.

It's all over to everyone else to do now - all various forms/paperwork/applications etc all done.

OP posts:
CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 30/10/2019 20:40

User I'm so sorry :( You're definitely right to go support your nice cousin, he must have needed it so much - not just because of the funeral but it sounds like it wasn't exclusive :(

OP posts:
Gingaaarghpussy · 30/10/2019 21:06

The other thing that bugged me was when someone said "...but she's your mother". Nope, hasn't been for 30 odd years, so that don't work either.
Don't even get me started on wills and siblings and other such WONDERFUL shit. Grin

DonKeyshot · 31/10/2019 01:27

A huge burden has been lifted from your shoulders and those who suffered his abuse should feel considerably lighter as a result.

I've been to more than a few funerals where the congregation was largely made up of those who would have stampeded rushed to secure the screws if the coffin lid had opened, and some burials where I have no doubt flamenco dancing a lively party was held on the grave as soon as it settled.

Flowers Sign that final cheque to the crem with glee and look forward to a bright new future free of his malevolent presence.

CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 31/10/2019 08:22

Yes, Gingaaa, I've had a few "but he's your grandad...." type things alongside "he's the only grandparent you have, you must make allowances...." type comments. (my dad's dad died 5 months before he was born fighting in the war and his mum died 18 months before I was born. My gran that I did know and adored died when I was 11). A lot of people just don't understand, do they!

The liar of a social worker's favourite response was" he can't be that bad " or" you're reading more into it "" yes but he has dementia now. " she was removed from her post after a catalogue of errors towards us (and another 2 cases) including telling us we didn't have to pay for something and then a 1500 bill arriving. It was like she took pleasure on making everything worse and causing more problems a d pain.

Thank you DonKey, I am really really looking forward to this time next month when it is all over.

And this Christmas.... It will be immense. First ever without him and his shadow hanging over us and with a new baby nephew to spoil ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

OP posts:
CottonHeadedNinyMuggins · 03/11/2019 09:49

Other than paying the bill at the end - we are on the home stretch.

His direct cremation is going to be on Wednesday at 8am.

So close to being totally free!

OP posts:
FinnBalorsAbs · 03/11/2019 09:54

You are not bad people. And don't feel guilt for not feeling bad either. This man has overshadowed your lives for so long, just enjoy being out in the (metaphorical - it's pissing it down here!) sunshine.

Have an amazing Christmas and just breathe. You have both been so strong for so long. Flowers

Sparklyboots · 03/11/2019 10:01

When people say sorry, OP, you can take it as meaning they are sorry about the whole mess, and that you had him to deal with until the bitter end, and that it wasn't over sooner, and that no one else took some of that burden, because that is what they would mean by it if they knew, and is probably what they mean by it if they do.

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