To tell or not to tell. That is the question.

My mom is 97 and gets depressed about all that she has lost. Looking at old pictures only makes her sad and talking about her great great grandchildren stirs up memories of her deceased daughter. I focus on the present and encourage her to work on her daily hygiene, simple pleasures of TV and what’s for dessert. If she forgets and asks about her brother (long deceased) I say “That I have talked to his daughter, she doing well”. She doesn’t pursue it further.

Next time I think I probably won't tell her. A cousin of ours died a couple of months ago and her daughter died a month before she did and they didn't tell her that her daughter died. They didn't want to upset her.

In my opinion, if she doesn't NEED to know, then don't tell her.  My husband lost his brother to cancer several years ago and family decided not to tell his Mother - it would've broken her heart.  I honestly think they made the right decision.