Shortly after 10 p.m. on November 30, former President of the United States George H.W. Bush passed away at the age of 94.
Bush's son, the 43rd president of the United States George W. Bush, confirmed the sad news in a statement.
"Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died," read the statement. "George H. W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens."
While no cause of death has been revealed, Bush's health had been on the decline in the recent years.
The 41st president, who held the position from 1989 to 1993, was diagnosed with vascular Parkinsonism, a rare condition that mimics symptoms of Parkinson's disease but isn't considered progressive neurodegenerative disease.
In 2017, he was rushed to the hospital twice, in January and in April. Both times, his spokesperson Jim McGrath confirmed that the businessman-turned-politician suffered complications related to pneumonia.
Bush's family members, especially his son George, were "constantly by his side," after his hospital stints and that put him "good spirits."
"Big morale boost from a high level delegation. No father has ever been more blessed, or prouder," Bush tweeted during one of his hospital stays.
A little over a year later, his health took a turn for the worse. In his final days, he mostly slept and stopped eating.
Family and friends visited him at his gated community home in Houston, Texas to say goodbye. Although he wasn't physically present, George was able to speak to his father on the phone and he was the last to hear him talk.
George told him that he was a "wonderful dad" and that he loved him. Bush replied, "I love you too," which were his last words.
According to Bush's longtime friend and former secretary of state, James A. Baker III, his passing "was as gentle a passing as I think you could ever expect anyone to have. And he was ready."
Bush's granddaughter Jenna Bush Hager echoed James' comment about her grandfather being ready.
"I had the opportunity to talk with my grandpa about the afterlife. This is what he said: 'Yes, I think about it. I used to be afraid. I used to be scared of dying. I used to worry about death. But now in some ways I look forward to it.'"
Bush explained that he was looking forward to reuniting with the people he has lost, including his wife Barbara, who died eight months ago, his mother, and his daughter Robin, who died of leukemia at the age of three.
