Well, that’s how *I* always felt about it.
True believers, people who believe in Heaven and the great rewards of After - I’d think they’d embrace that. Most people believe in our concept of Heaven from Sunday School -fields of gold, no pain, everyone you loved present, pure happiness. I fail to understand why that would be something to dread, that people would prefer to stay in incredible pain here on earth (or want their loved ones to), instead of wanting them out of pain whatever the belief is.
I also think people with lingering or painful illnesses or diseases come to terms with death long before the families do. I miss my dad for selfish reasons, I don’t want him ‘gone’, I want to be able to call him whenever, wherever, still be ‘his girl’. But that’s the selfish side of me. I wouldn’t want him here but in pain, debilitated, suffering, dependent (even though I would have gladly taken care of him) because *he* would have hated it. That wouldn’t have been ‘quality of life’ to him.
Before and after his death, I watched my MIL die over a 2 year period, in and out of the hospital and nursing homes. She was only 67 when it started. And since I had so recently and unexpectedly lost my own father, I realized that death is not a terrible thing compared to ‘living’ the way she did during that time. All her kids were ready to see her go - she was suffering a *lot*. Only my FIL wasn’t ready and I think she hung on for him. My H told him within her hearing ‘You need to let her know you’ll be ok. That she doesn’t have to fight anymore. Dad, we’ll all take care of you, you won’t be alone. We’re here and we’ll stay here.’ My FIL said he couldn’t, but H kept saying ‘She needs to rest. We’re here, you won’t be alone’ and within 2 days she was gone. She fought hard for a long time but it did no good.
Again, I’d rather have a last day filled with everything good than 2 years like she did.
But in the end, it is really up to the individual doing the dying to handle it.
Some are believers and hang on until nature takes it's course. Of course, the medical services just about bankrupt the survivors in some cases, but that's life.
Others take matters into their own hands for reasons they alone believe in.
Either way, it's up to the individual involved.
Personally, I hope I have the courage of my convictions and if I reach the point this lady did, I would follow gladly in her footsteps.
Once again, I say, "Way to go, ma'am!"