Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

A POA terminates at no later than death of the person granting the POA.

Now to deal with any of the assets in your mother's estate, some individual, depending on whether mom had a will or not, will need to be a court appointed Administrator or an Executor, or make property dispositions through a small estate affidavit, if appropriate. If there is any property that belonged to your mother that needs to be dealt with, you would benefit from talking to an attorney.