Advertisement
Home Lifestyle Sex & Relationships

Couple married for more than 60 years die twenty minutes apart

"You couldn't ask for anything more beautiful," their son said.
Two elderly hands holding each other against a clear blue sky, one hand wearing a gold watch.

Jeanette and Henry De Lange had the kind of love story people dream about.

Advertisement

The South-Dakota based couple were married in 1953. They have spent every day together since.

He was a Korean War Veteran, she was a musician who took care of their five children. They never looked back.

Last month their children received an urgent call from the nursing home facility the pair were staying at.

Henry, at 86, was losing his battle to prostate cancer. Jeanette, 87, was also suffering from Alzheimerโ€™s Disease with no signs of improvement.

Advertisement

The end seemed near.

โ€œ[The doctor] said your dadโ€™s pulse is worse. I wonder if heโ€™ll go first,โ€ son Lee De Lange told KSFY. โ€œAbout five minutes later, the aid said I think your mum will go very soon. It was 5:05 p.m. at that point.โ€

At 5:10pm she passed away.

Advertisement

Two of her children were able to be by Jeanetteโ€™s side at the time she passed. They told their heartbroken dad he could stop fighting too if he needed to.

โ€œMy brother Keith said to my dad, said โ€˜mumโ€™s gone to heaven. You donโ€™t have to fight anymore, you can go too if you want,โ€ Lee said.

โ€œHe was laying in bed. He, for the first time, opened his eyes, looked intently over where mum was. Closed his eyes back down. Laid back down, died about 5 or 10 minutes after that.โ€

It was twenty minutes after his beloved wife had left the world.

Advertisement

โ€œWeโ€™re calling it a beautiful act of Godโ€™s providential love and mercy,โ€ Lee said. โ€œYou donโ€™t pray for it because it seems mean but you couldnโ€™t ask for anything more beautiful.โ€

Proof that sometimes the most understated love stories truly are the most special ones. RIP, Jeanette and Henry.

Related stories


Unwind and relax with your favourite magazine!

Huge savings plus FREE home delivery

Advertisement
Advertisement