I would not assign such bravery to myself until I was faced with the situation and responded in a similar fashion. What I am saying is that your relative showed a stunningly rare and powerful character strength and individuality which, sadly, was far more common in previous generations than in the present generation.
Things happen for a reason. Your relative's death due to her failure to beg for largess is one hell of testament to her character and personal fortitude. I'm sure she'd prefer that epitaph to "Failed to beg for power". Don't you?
I have no idea what she would have preferred, since I didn’t know her. However, I would rather have my epitaph read, “Fought and won for whatever he was entitled to”. If it has been determined by whatever deciders that be that I am entitled to energy assistance, I will d*mn well get it. I’ve certainly paid out enough.
I’d rather fight than freeze to death. At least I will live to fight another day.
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
On another note, this sounds like a tragic story but we don't really know what happened. Maybe the man died of natural causes and then froze. Since we know how good the MSM is at writing truthful stories (about 20 percent of any story they publish MAY be true), about the only thing that is certain in this story is that a 93 year old man died in his home and he may have been discovered on a cold day. I'd like to add that they spelled his name correctly but that is one of the details they most get wrong.