The Admiral and I like to think when ours leave us it's because they are ready and just know another rescue dog that would fit into our family is out there waiting for a good home
Lessens the loss and certainly improves the life of another rescued dog.
We've been a 2 dog house almost as long as we've been together, over 30yrs, all but the 1st were rescues and 1 was a found dog. Took him to the vet the day we found him and spent a week tracking down his owner.
Gave him back @2p on Sun and it nearly broke my wife's heart to lose 1 to old age, find 1 2wks later, nurse him back to health for a week and loose another by giving him back. Went straight to the shelter, found her a major cuddle bug dachshund/cocker spaniel mix and brought him home.
Next day @430p when I was headed home, that owner called said the 1 we found still wasn't getting a long w her other 2 dogs. Which is why he'd had some war wounds and ran away. If we wanted him back, we could have him. Oddly enough he was their 1st dog, the aggressive problem dog seemed to be the new addition. Couldnt understand giving away the 1st they'd had for 5yrs and keep the aggressive one... Picked him back up @545p and just like that we were a 3dog house.... Thick as thieves those 3 were..... 3 happy amigos for 7 or more years including a cross country move.
Sorry for your family's loss, hope the too long post above helps...