When a loved one dies, do you believe an angel or someone grasps their hands to guide them to be with God?

When my aunt passed away in the ICU after days of being on a ventilator non responsive and all hope gone, we (her family) made the decision to take her off the ventilator and let her go. About 8 of us, all of us who were very very close to her, her two sisters (one being my mother), nieces, nephews stood around her. We were entwined together with her. The nurse shut off the vent and we all prayed, soothed her, stoked her hand and hair and when the inevitable occurred it was like we were one with her, with God, with each other and the feeling was divine- in the sense that it was truly special, so reverent of her and I felt all the love in that room and it lifted us all up and we were indeed one. She left in love that guided her to the next level and it was a peaceful, lovely, holy experience. Hard to explain but we felt her leave and it was so spiritual and unearthly and truly, again, a divine experience. She was greatly loved and gave love to everyone she met, it was a honor to be there with her and I am sure she left this world in the arms of an angel that took her to Heaven, as that is where she belongs.
Hard to explain but one of the most beautiful, pure, simple, loving experience of my life. Family meant so much to her and I was privileged to see her off. Yes, an angel came and gently enveloped her in love.
I haven't feared death since then. That experience helped me let my mom go too. I know she lives on in spirit.  

Thank you Send.These answers mean a lot to me and I
like to read them again from time to time.I appreciate it.

Bringing this back to the top so Luckylu can find it...at her request.

I believe there are angels rejoicing in heaven at the death of one of the saints.

66 Answers for you, Luckylu!

By a friend's request, I am bringing this back to the top.

I don't know about Angels but I sure hope that it's true that there is a bright light and it's as glorious as we read about. No, I DO believe that it is. If not, then this life means nothing and has no purpose. I couldn't have gotten through so much in the last 8 years of my life without Him holding me up and carrying me through. Yes, my husband is my rock and has held my hand through all but without God giving me peace through his Grace it would have been a lot harder. May God Bless you all with his peace.

I would have to say yes, an angel is there. When my mother was close to death, my sisters and I gathered; there are 4 of us. We were all in the room with her. I saw Ann angel circle the room several times. I said nothing. The next day, I (sister4) told sister 2 about my experience. She later told sister 1 who informed her 3 had told her the same exact thing yesterday. Sister 3 and I nevet talked. At thetime of the occurance we were in different parts of the room. Mom died shortly there after.

I've felt that same energy. Almost like a big shiver passing through my whole body.

I'm an only child (my parents were immigrants) and I never experienced the death of a family member until I took care of my father. At this point of my life, I'm agnostic and I'm open to changing my views as I gain different life experiences. When my father was on his deathbed, he was fully coherent of what was to come and had all of his faculties; no dementia issues. I saw him praying feverishly under his breath with his eyes closed and it was like he was talking to someone, acknowledging he heard it was "his time" to come home, so to speak. I just remembered thinking this was such a weird - yet beautiful thing I was watching. He died several hours later. After his body was taken to the place in prep for the burial, a few hours after this, I was laying down in his bed and I distinctly felt this wave, like a soft ocean tidal wave, of energy passing through my entire body. I like to think that this force of nature was my father's spirit passing through me before moving on to his final destination. We were very close. He was my hero, my role model for a future husband. I miss him everyday and he passed away years ago. And I've never felt that wave of energy again. I think if your mother believes or wants to believe there is a spiritual guiding hand to the other side and this guidance can give her some peace as she transitions, then this is good for her. Maybe just holding your hand is all that she needs. Maybe you're the angel, you're the hand to the other side. :-) For most of us, we want to feel we're protected, we want to feel we'll be okay as we journey on to the final destination. I wish you and your mother have peace.

Luckylu ((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) Keep us updated,

So sorry for your pain Lucky. May God fill your heart with peace.

When daddy was in Hospice care, he would often say the name "Malah" or "Malach". My mother was upset b/c she thought his MOTHER would come "get him". I told my daughter, who at the time happened to be taking Hebrew. She said "Mom, Malah, or Malach is the word "angel" in Hebrew.

Wish there were words to comfort you, Luckylu. I do care about you, and what you are going through for your Mom. When that time comes, and afterward too, lean on us here for support and love.{{{{{{hugs}}}}}} to you!

It's been a long ,memorable journey with Mother but we are at the end I'm afraid.At this point,I just hope she dies peacefully in her sleep and I do believe my Dad or someone she knows and loves will help her or atleast I pray so.Thanks again for your wonderful thoughts and answers to my big question.

What I believe is that there are angels of protection sent by the Lord, whenever there is a need, not just by the bedside of a person expected to die, but to those who need comfort.

Hi Luckylu, thanks for re-visiting this thread again.

I could never thank you all enough for all your kind and thoughtful input.It has comforted me and I appreciate someone in this world really cares.May God Bless You!

I'm good Windy. Lets be friends okay?

All the comments are duly noted. I truly respect all you folks, read your posts and appreciate your comments on faith or any other subject. I think the discussion should continue, it is worthwhile. I don't want to be the pissed off kid who took my ball and ran home cause I didn't like the rules. But let's return the disscussion to the original post by Lucky. I didn't mean to get it off course. If you want to debate Angels vs the Easter Bunny, meet me on the message board.

Windy if you are still on this forum and didn't leave like you said you would I would like to explain why I said what I did. Nowhere in my post did I put down your non beliefs. I said, if you want to reread my post was "you are entitled to your non-beliefs"

However comparing someones christian beliefs to that of the Easter Bunny etc. is
kind of a put-down.

Granted maybe you were trying to be funny. I'll give you that.

I am grateful for my personal belief that this life is temporary and that there is indeed a wonderful eternal life beyond this one. I have lost many loved ones, and been with several when they passed. Definitely felt that someone came to "get them". When my FIL passed (not a religious man at all) my hubby and his sister were sitting on either side of his bed. My BIL and I were sitting in chairs in a corner. Suddenly, I looked at my BIL and he looked at me and we both whispered "did you feel that?" It was like a sweet breeze had moved through the room. I said to my hubby "Honey, I think your dad is gone", and he looked at his dad and saw that he indeed has passed between one breath and another. I think he and his sis would have felt that awesome moment too if they hadn't been talking. I think whatever comforts the patient is fine....I miss my dad so much, but I have still felt his presence many times.

a good discussion, thanks to spellcheck.

Windy, I respect your non-beliefs, and your rights to not believe. However, respect for other's belief's does not necessarily translate to mean that everyone else must stay silent about their own belief.
Your not wanting to use this post to debate theology is a good and lofty goal, and consistent with the guidelines of aging care forum. Your input is valuable and appreciated, you are a part of this community.
However, and this is just for you, there is IMOP, error when you say that since you are not a person of faith you will stay off this thread. In the 'christian' community there are so many varying beliefs, translations, and opinions that someone is always offended. I too am offended.
Don't feel all alone with your sense of humor, as I am always taking heat for that.
For example, if you correct anyone's spelling, I personally reserve the right to correct yours. But then, this forum is not intended for that either. If you and I started going back and forth correcting each other's spelling, we would then be called on to explain if we are caregivers, or something because people would get lost. Since we are asked to stay on topic, I would like to say this.
On my deathbed, if anyone I know who has died or an angel comes to take my hand, I am not going willingly that day, but that is just my belief.

Windy, well said! Gershun, in support of Windy, I think he was trying as well to lend some humor to a very traumatic event in anyone's lives. I didn't interpret his response to be flippant in any sense of the word.

I would also think that anyone who does believe in Christianity should also respect the right of others who either don't believe or have their own religions and beliefs.

This isn't just a Christian nation; it's also a nation of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Native Americans and probably others with their own respective beliefs. ALL of them should be respected, for their beliefs in life as well as in death.

Some of our American heritage derives from important contributions from the Greeks, who certainly weren't Christians but had their own set of gods and goddesses, as did the Romans and Egyptians, also both important contributors to art, architecture, government and other aspects of life.

Gershun, I think this is a good disscusion, people are sharing ideas to make the end of life more comforting for their loved ones, and that type of interaction is the intent of this forum. I respect people's right to believe in various religions, myths, dreams etc. But it offends me that many "People Of Faith" don't respect my right not to believe. As for being flippant, well ok, maybe I was a little but if ever a forum needs a little lightening up its this one. That was my intent, not to ruffle feathers. I don't want to use this post to debate theology. Since I am not a person of faith I will stay off this thread, but again, I do appreciate any and all ideas that ease the passing of our loved ones.

Windyridge you are entitled to your non beliefs but doesn't mean you have to be flippant about others beliefs.

Something to think about........:)

As I was growing up I often heard my Mom tell how she knew her mother had passed before she got the call because she'd had a dream where she saw Jesus standing on a beautiful marble staircase with sunlit clouds behind Him & His arms stretched wide in a welcoming posture. When my father passed away 3 days before my 21st birthday I was hoping to have the same experience that night. I was so disappointed that I didn't. Looking back, I think the reason that I didn't is that God gives us what we need to comfort us. My Mom needed that quintessential religious experience for comfort but I needed a different experience to know that my Dad understood & loved me despite the friction between us the last year of his life. I *AM* convinced that comfort came in the form of visits from Dad because I would suddenly smell the pungent scent of cigarette smoke even though no one in my house smoked. (Dad was a severe chain smoker from age 14!). The one "appearance" that has always stuck in my head was one evening that I was watching TV, suddenly smelled cigarette smoke & had a sense of forboding in regards to my Mom. The smell & the feeling of urgency just didn't go away so I went to check on her. I found her lying on her kitchen floor with a broken hip.

Luckylu, it would seem that what your mother believes about a personal relationship with the God she believes in matters the most. Can she speak, to tell you about her beliefs? Secondly, ask her if she has concerns about leaving you behind, and share with her what you believe. Maybe it is time to call in spiritual guidance from someone who believes the same as Mom.
Personally, and biblically, no matter what she believes, she will not be alone.

Their loved ones.