[ben_w]

My mum died that way.

Alzheimer's, leading to not drinking enough water (not that anyone around her was aware of that until the coroner's report), leading to kidney failure.

Her last day was very obviously painful, and given the nature of the condition, I suspect that the instantaneous experience of pain was her whole universe.

My dad died from bowel cancer; took a year of gradually wasting away. That was also natural.

[croes]

I doubt that that is what parent meant.

More like you go to sleep and never wake up again. No fear, no pain.