text: That's so sad.   My mother died shortly after New Year's but it was touch and go from about Christmas Eve on.   We couldn't get a priest  there until the 4th of January.  It took many phone calls and finally a priest from a neighboring parish came.  Hospice wasn't particularly helpful in those days either.  We thought it was because of the timing.  
  Spiritual support for the sick is sorely lacking in this area. (City of about 75K)
  There's the lack of the sacrament but there is also the lack of spiritual support when facing death.  Some people don't know how to deal with the feelings and anxieties and may need a spiritual compass.
  
  Why can't deacon's perform the Anointing of the Sick?  Anybody know.