I have a similar experience with my father. My life got better with his death, sad to say.

The priest had a good talk with him a month before he died. The priest said Dad wished he had spent more time with the family. And yet, Dad kept his toxicity (with me) right to the end.

It is so hard for some people to let go of "bad things" in their life. My counsellor called it "the addiction of arrogance."