Having heard the complete story from my mother, I am at greater ease.
Before he died, he sang the first part of his favorite song to my mother, but couldn't sing further. My mother gave him a rosary and started a prayer, he joined her (he couldn't speak, but his mouth moved). When the prayer was done he smiled and passed away.
He died smiling and content, and that gives me solace. Today, I was finally able to cry.
On his funeral tomorrow practicly 2 entire small towns will be present, plus a large number of people from a third one and various other people from other towns. The cemetery won't be able to hold them all.
He was pillar of not just the immediate family, but also the extended one and the entire community.