Awwwwwwwwwwwww!Ohio couple married 73 years die within 28 hours of each other

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/21/ohio-couple-married-73-years-die-within-28-hours
<snip>
Helen and Joe Auer’s love story spanned seven decades, surviving the Great Depression, a world war, and 10 children. When Helen died last Wednesday, Joe leaned over to give his wife of 73 years a final kiss goodbye, and whispered to her: “Call me home”, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Just 28 hours later, Joe joined her.

Their children were not surprised. They told the Enquirer they believed their dad could survive one night without her, but not two.

“They were simple, humble people. They wanted nothing and got everything in return,” the couple’s youngest son, Jerry Auer, told the paper.

Like any couple, they suffered hardships over the years, Jerry reported. Money was tight and rearing 10 children was stressful at times. But through it all, their marriage thrived and their family grew. Joe and Helen leave behind nine children – the oldest is 72 years old – 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

[valerief]

1. Now THAT'S codependency. But in a good way!

[malaise]

2. It's truly beautiful

[Calista241]

3. Amazing story. n/t

[DreamGypsy]

4. The days that they shared, were the stars in their crown...

A tale of a similar aging couple as captured in the song by Garnet Rogers, Stars in Their Crown (from the Small Victories recording).

(The lyrics are below if you can't catch all the words.)

That pair in the corner,
They’re here every Tuesday
They come when the market first opens its stalls.
And it’s got so that lately
I’ll wait just to see them
Their heads bent together,
As they come down the hall.

And her hair has grown whiter
His has grown thinner
And their pace has slowed down,
As the years have grown long
But they keep step together
Among strangers who hurry,
These two old companions,
Walking slowly along.

They always take the same table
And they open their menus,
And I watch as his hand stretches out to touch hers,
And she, with the other, reaches under her chair,
And fumbles her glasses from out of her purse.
And she reads him the specials,
He does the ordering,
They joke with the waitress, about watching their weight
But the waitress says nothing, she just snaps her gum
And then brings their dessert,
That they’ll share from one plate.

Sometimes I watch them too closely,
They notice me staring
And they smile at me vaguely,
They don't see my face
But they know I’m a stranger,
Not one of their friends
Who have died, or long since
Moved away from this place.

They keep to themselves
They’re each others shelter,
Two hearts grown together,
Two parts of a whole
And I smile at them shyly,
I know I intrude, on this pair of old lovers,
And I turn and I go.

But, you know that I’ve seen them
As they leave the cafe,
He pulls out her chair,
And he helps her to stand
And he holds out her coat,
And he hugs it around her
And together they leave
Holding each others hand.

And there’s a love beyond words
In their every small gesture,
As the two old companions make their way through the town
A love beyond name, beyond years, beyond measure
And the days that they share are the stars in their crown.

Safe home, Helen and Joe Auer.

[Hekate]

6. So beautiful

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. What lovely lyrics

thanks for sharing them.

[malaise]

9. That's so lovely

Thanks

[GliderGuider]

13. That's one of my favourite songs of Garnet's.

Last edited Wed Oct 22, 2014, 09:28 AM - Edit history (1)

My folks have been married for 67 years. Their love is very much like the one in this song.

I'm finally with the woman I should have married 40 years ago, and we have a very strong feeling that we'll go out like Helen and Joe.

[Jamaal510]

5. This is the epitome of a sad, yet beautiful ending. eom

[Warren DeMontague]

8. NICE GOING, OBAMA!!!!

Seriously, if "two people die" can ever be considered a happy ending, this sort of story is it.

It is fitting that they were here together and left together.

[malaise]

10. Yes

I love 'real love'.

[shenmue]

11. ...

[B Calm]

12. It happens a lot more than what people realize.

My grandparents died a few months apart.

[malaise]

14. A good friend's grandparents died within hours of each other

Theirs was an amazing story. She died and he told them he was going with her - lay down besides her and died not long after. They left the home together. It makes perfect sense...heartbroken has real meaning.