While most of us remember the lively, complex extended family of rural Italy, in the modern home, such a sight has become noticeably less so. Some die alone, the rest are lonely

While most of us remember the lively, complex extended family of rural Italy, in the modern home, such a sight has become noticeably less so.

Some died alone, and the rest lived alone, almost as badly.

The real sadness is not that other people didn't notice she was dead, but that they didn't care that she had lived.