Dying to Remember - A Story of Love, Loss, and Dementia by Dianne D. Corder

Rose, the matriarch of the family, is still a feisty, flirty, lady, now in her late eighties. She has struggled with depression and anxiety throughout her life. Her daughter, Alison, has been her mother’s primary caretaker. This difficult time for the family watching their mother, Rose, slip into dementia. Rose and her sister Violet live at Crestview Assisted Living in separate apartments. In the close proximity of a retirement center the drama unfolds and personalities clash. The sisters love to reminisce, or even be a bit naughty, as they share a nightcap with friends. Alison and Kristy take care of their mother’s finances, and enjoy weekly visits together. We see the painful degeneration of dementia and how complex this becomes for both mother and daughter. The disease mixes past memories with the present and Rose lives in a nightmarish hell of confusion. She revisits the love story of her youth and the tragedy that followed. The secrets she had guarded are revealed and become life altering for everyone, especially Alison. As the family learns the truth about their mother, Rose and her story ends. Another story unfolds that has lasting impact for everyone, especially her daughter, Alison. She is left with questions in this generational story of loss and renewal.