Good post Eliza. I remember your mother as a vibrant young thing in the vibrant young Watersons! Judging by her recent work the voice is NOT fading. However, this lyric from 2000 was written to express much of what you posted
                     FADING VOICES

FADING VOICES ALL AROUND
STILL I HEAR THEIR JOYFUL SOUND
ONCE THEY STOOD BESIDE ME WHEN
WE WERE YOUNG AND SINGING THEN
SONGS THAT CAME LIKE SHOOTING STARS
TO SHINE THEIR LIGHT ON OUR GUITARS
WORDS THAT SET OUR SOULS AFLAME
THINKING ALL OUR LIVES A GAME
FADING VOICES ALL AROUND
STILL I HEAR THEIR JOYFUL SOUND

THE ROAD, THE GIRLS, THE SUN AT DAWN
THE TUNES THAT IN THAT HOUR WERE BORN
SIDE BY SIDE WE TOOK THE STAGE
AND NEVER THOUGHT WE'D REACH THIS AGE
SOME JUST GAVE IT ALL AWAY
AND LET THE BOTTLE WIN THE DAY
SOME JUST WATCHED THEIR SPOTLIGHT DIE
TILL DARKNESS TOOK THEM FROM OUR EYE
FADING VOICES ALL AROUND
STILL I HEAR THEIR JOYFUL SOUND

OLD SOLDIERS NOW AS YOUNG ONES COME
NEW TALES TO TELL NEW CHORDS TO STRUM
NAMES THAT ONCE WE HELD SO DEAR
ARE UNKNOWN TO THE YOUNG ONES HERE
BUT FADING VOICES ALL AROUND
STILL I HEAR THEIR JOYFUL SOUND
ONCE THEY STOOD BESIDE ME WHEN
WE WERE YOUNG AND SINGING THEN
OLD SOLDIERS NOW, OUR TORCHES BURN
STILL BRIGHT BUT TAKE THEM IT'S YOUR TURN