One thing that began happening before my mom had even died, but was in the hospital in a coma, was that I began seeing not just who she was in the present, but also who she had been throughout my life and even before.  I was flooded by memories from all different parts of my life as well as stories she had told me about all the  parts of her life.

It was like I immediately began absorbing the person she was.  She was no longer just my mom; the whole of her came clearly into focus.  All the things I knew but didn't process because of our relationship or life