The feud between the Schindler family and son-in-law Michael Schiavo continued to the last moments of the brain- damaged woman's life. It is likely to reverberate into the future, as lawmakers wrestle with the questions raised in the dispute over her end-of- life wishes.

A day short of two weeks after her life-sustaining feeding tube was removed, the 41- year-old woman died Thursday morning at Hospice House Woodside.

When word of her death was announced outside the building, there was a brief silence. Then people who had prayed and protested - some of them for days - began to mourn, take down signs and ask reporters what they knew of Schiavo's final moments.

The debate sparked by the family feud over whether to remove her feeding tube isn't likely to end soon.

Advocates of prolonging life under almost all circumstances on one side, and of the right to refuse medical treatment on the other, will continue to push for legal change in Tallahassee and on Capitol Hill.

There were few, if any, political or religious leaders - or break-room debaters - inhabiting a middle ground.

``I urge all those who honor Terri Schiavo to continue to work to build a culture of life where all Americans are welcomed and valued and protected, especially those who live at the mercy of others,'' said President Bush, who interrupted his Easter vacation in an unsuccessful bid to help keep Terri Schiavo alive.

A story watched all over the world, Terri Schiavo's death drew a response from the Vatican, where the health of Pope John Paul II continued to deteriorate. He was nourished with the help of a feeding tube similar to that at the center of the Schiavo debate.

``The circumstances of the death of Ms. Terri Schiavo have rightly disturbed consciences,'' Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in the first direct reference to the case from the Holy See. ``An existence was interrupted. A death was arbitrarily hastened because nourishing a person can never be considered employing exceptional means.''

George Felos, the attorney who championed Michael Schiavo's fight to have his wife's feeding tube removed, said Terri Schiavo's stated wish never to be kept alive with ``tubes'' had finally been honored.

``Mrs. Schiavo's death ... has led to a family dialogue, a community dialogue, a national dialogue and perhaps a worldwide dialogue'' over end- of-life decisions, Felos said.

``The law gives you the right to make your own medical treatment choices,'' he said. ``This case demonstrates more than anything could demonstrate that if you don't take personal responsibility ... then your wishes may not be carried out, not only to your own personal harm, but to the destruction to your family and loved ones.

``This is a clarion call to everyone to make their wishes known,'' Felos said.

Bobby Schindler said his sister's death was part of God's plan.

``Our family had hoped this day would never come, but as it has now arrived, we ask ourselves a question in these incredibly sad circumstances: What would Lord Jesus ask us to do?'' he said.

``Our prayer at this time is that our nation will remember the plight of persons with disabilities and commit within our hearts to defend their lives and their dignity for many generations to come.''

Long Legal Battle

Terri Schiavo's wishes were at the heart of the seven-year court battle between Michael Schiavo and Bob and Mary Schindler, with the two sides taking opposing positions on whether she would want to be kept alive with a feeding tube.

After a January 2000 nonjury trial, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer ruled that testimony from Michael Schiavo and his relatives provided ``clear and convincing evidence'' that Terri Schiavo made statements prior to falling ill indicating she would not want to be kept alive without hope of improvement.

The Schindlers testified that their daughter made no such statements prior to suffering brain damage caused by heart failure in February 1990 when she was 26. They disputed doctors' diagnoses that their daughter was in a persistent vegetative state.

Until the end, the Schindlers maintained that Schiavo reacted to them and could improve with therapy.

The Schindlers appealed repeatedly, but Greer was upheld again and again by state appellate courts and in federal court. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the couple's final appeal Wednesday night.

Twice, Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on Greer's orders, only to be reinserted. The first time, in April 2001, another judge intervened. The second time, in October 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush ordered the tube reinserted using a hastily crafted measure known as Terri's Law, later struck down as unconstitutional.

No Bedside Reunion

The acrimony between the two sides of the family continued until the end.

Minutes before Terri Schiavo died, Bobby Schindler and sister Suzanne Vitadamo emerged from the hospice visibly upset at being asked to leave their sister's bedside so her husband could be with her in her final minutes.

Michael Schiavo, who had been living in a hospice room down the hall since March 18, left his wife's side about 7 a.m. Thursday to make way for the brother and sister, Felos said.

Throughout the night, Terri Schiavo's condition declined, and it was the decision of hospice officials to ask the siblings to leave so her husband could be with her at the end, Felos said.

Soothing music that had been playing was turned off. A large bouquet of lilies and white and red roses, sent anonymously, stood beside the bed. Stuffed animals and a white angel figurine decorated the room.

Terri Schiavo's breathing became labored, and her limbs grew cold, Felos said.

She died about 9 a.m., cradled in her husband's arms, a stuffed tabby cat at her side, Felos said.

In the room with the couple were Michael's brother, Brian Schiavo, Felos and co-counsel Deborah Bushnell, and three to four hospice workers.

``Mrs. Schiavo died a calm, peaceful, gentle death,'' Felos said.

Brian Schiavo also described the scene.

``We'd just gotten down there and she probably lasted 60 seconds,'' after the Schindlers left, he said.

``It was extremely emotional. Michael's heart was broken.''

Harsh statements by a Schindler family spiritual adviser coupled with an incident between Bobby Schindler and a Pinellas Park police officer prompted Michael Schiavo to ban his in-laws from the room, Felos said.

Bobby Schindler had argued with the officer, demanding to stay, Felos said. In what the attorney characterized as a ``split-second decision,'' Michael Schiavo refused his brother-in-law's request that the officer stay to keep the peace so both could remain in the room.

``Mr. Schiavo's overriding concern here was to provide for Terri a peaceful death with dignity,'' Felos said. ``Mr. Schiavo was not going to permit a potentially explosive situation.''

After Terri Schiavo died, her husband spent some time with her before leaving the room so her siblings could return.

By then, Bob and Mary Schindler were driving from their home in Gulfport. They, too, spent time with their daughter's body, which had been bathed by hospice workers.

Shortly after 11 a.m., hospice workers gathered in a circle around the body to pray before her remains were taken to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

Cremation Planned

Pinellas County Medical Examiner Jon Thogmartin ruled that state law requires an autopsy, in part because of allegations of abuse against Michael Schiavo, office investigations director Bill Pellam said.

A final report is expected to take a few weeks to complete while laboratory tests are performed.

Michael Schiavo has received court permission to cremate his wife's remains and to inter them, against the Schindlers' wishes, in the Philadelphia area where the couple grew up.

The Schindlers also unsuccessfully objected on religious grounds to their daughter's cremation. By state law, cremations cannot take place for at least 48 hours after death.

Felos said he has no comment on Michael Schiavo's immediate plans.

Bobby Schindler offered words of reconciliation.

``Our family seeks forgiveness for anything that we have done in standing for Terri's life that has not demonstrated the love and compassion required of us by our faith,'' he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Tribune Reporters Adam Emerson, Richard Mullins, Stephen Thompson, Jerome R. Stockfisch, Garrett Therolf and Allison North Jones, and News Channel 8 reporter Mark Douglas contributed to this report.

Thursday's Events

9:05 a.m.: Terri Schiavo dies.

9:45 a.m.: Michael Schiavo's attorney confirms her death.

10:05 a.m.: Schindler adviser Brother Paul O'Donnell announces her death to people outside the hospice.

4:30 p.m.: Her sister, Suzanne Vitadamo, and brother, Bobby Schindler, address family supporters.

Times are approximate.