It's learned behavior......her mother was probably the same way????

They also love to hold onto the past memories & can't let go of them wanting to keep the past alive & well in their minds.

Yep, moms like that one just has to sort of tolerate & not take what they say personally.....just "mom's being mom again" sort of stuff & write it off to that rather than the fact that she's intentionally attacking you. Some people don't know any other learned behavior & if they have no desire to change or reprogram their neuropathways for that behavior.....we end up stuck having to hear it for the REST of THEIR lives.

It's sad but after my mother died, there was an area of relief though I missed her terribly it was like that area of stress in my life disappeared. Didn't mean I loved her any the less there was just an area of less stress & tension I felt without really realizing it until later looking back.

Changing the topic is a great way to deal with it & she probably wouldn't even notice....as she sounds like someone who just blurts out what is on the top of their mind & when it's off the top it's replaced by something else.