Husband and wife who were married for 70 years died just minutes apart

[Веретенников Сергей]

In the United States, a couple who had been married for 70 years died from coronavirus just minutes apart, Channel 5 News reports.

At the end of December, 89-year-old Dick Meek and his 87-year-old wife Shirley celebrated their wedding anniversary, after which they began feeling unwell. On January 8, they were hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.

The couple’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and the doctors could no longer help them. Their relatives therefore asked the hospital staff to allow them to spend their final minutes together.

The couple died on January 16, just minutes apart. In the final hours of their lives, they held hands. They are survived by 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">In the United States, a couple who had been married for 70 years died from coronavirus just minutes apart, Channel 5 News reports.<br /> <br /> At the end of December, 89-year-old Dick Meek and his 87-year-old wife Shirley celebrated their wedding anniversary, after which they began feeling unwell. On January 8, they were hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.<br /> <br /> The couple’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and the doctors could no longer help them. Their relatives therefore asked the hospital staff to allow them to spend their final minutes together.<br /> <br /> <div class="lbContainer lbContainer--inline " title="pic_316d63f2dc398c261b64b980badfb46b.jpg" data-xf-init="lightbox" data-lb-single-image="1" data-lb-container-zoom="1" data-lb-trigger=".js-lbImage-attachment829" data-lb-id="attachment829"> <div class="lbContainer-zoomer js-lbImage-attachment829" data-src="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/attachments/pic_316d63f2dc398c261b64b980badfb46b-jpg.829/" aria-label="Zoom"></div> <img src="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/attachments/pic_316d63f2dc398c261b64b980badfb46b-jpg.829/" data-url="" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" alt="pic_316d63f2dc398c261b64b980badfb46b.jpg" style="" /> </div><br /> <br /> The couple died on January 16, just minutes apart. In the final hours of their lives, they held hands. They are survived by 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.</div>

 

[2101197]

I always jokingly say that my husband and I will live long and happily, and die on the same day. But I believe that every joke contains a grain of truth...

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">I always jokingly say that my husband and I will live long and happily, and die on the same day. But I believe that every joke contains a grain of truth...</div>

 

[Удалённый пользователь 19]

Every joke contains a grain of truth...

They also say that every joke contains a grain of a joke.

In the final hours of their lives, they held hands.

What an extraordinary couple! Apparently, they had spent many lifetimes together.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/school/en/goto/post?id=2601" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-2601">2101197 said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent "> Every joke contains a grain of truth... </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink"><a>Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>They also say that every joke contains a grain of a joke.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/school/en/goto/post?id=2599" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-2599">Веретенников Сергей said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent "> In the final hours of their lives, they held hands. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink"><a>Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>What an extraordinary couple! Apparently, they had spent many lifetimes together.</div>

 

[369]

In all likelihood, they truly loved each other. I even imagined a scene in which one of them had already left the body (I envisioned it as the man), and, watching from above, waited for his beloved. Then they took each other’s hands and, embracing, flew toward God, joyful and happy.
May they have a safe journey! My eyes filled with tears—not because I feel sorry for them (on the contrary, I am happy for them), but because it is so rare in life to witness true love! What a pity; how wonderful this world would immediately become if people lived not because they had to, but because they loved!

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">In all likelihood, they truly loved each other. I even imagined a scene in which one of them had already left the body (I envisioned it as the man), and, watching from above, waited for his beloved. Then they took each other’s hands and, embracing, flew toward God, joyful and happy.<br /> May they have a safe journey! My eyes filled with tears—not because I feel sorry for them (on the contrary, I am happy for them), but because it is so rare in life to witness true love! What a pity; how wonderful this world would immediately become if people lived not because they had to, but because they loved!</div>

 

[196228]

What an extraordinary couple! Apparently, they had spent many lifetimes together.

Yes, perhaps they saw something greater and more meaningful in each other, and cherished and protected it until their final breath. Their family and loved ones were fortunate to be born into such a family—a model of holiness and the value of family life.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/school/en/goto/post?id=2603" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-2603">021047 said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent "> What an extraordinary couple! Apparently, they had spent many lifetimes together. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink"><a>Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>Yes, perhaps they saw something greater and more meaningful in each other, and cherished and protected it until their final breath. Their family and loved ones were fortunate to be born into such a family—a model of holiness and the value of family life.</div>

 

[2611]

To go through 70 years together... Their life was like a marathon... Since they were destined to have such an ending, they must have completed this journey with honor, and received such a reward at the end.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">To go through 70 years together... Their life was like a marathon... Since they were destined to have such an ending, they must have completed this journey with honor, and received such a reward at the end.</div>

 

[2525777]

I wish I could have met them while they were alive, to learn from them how to build such harmonious relationships.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">I wish I could have met them while they were alive, to learn from them how to build such harmonious relationships.</div>

 

[8030]

2525777 , yes, I agree. Or it would have been wonderful if they had at least left memoirs with advice for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the latter had published them

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><style> .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } </style> <span> <a href="/school/en/members/2525777.61/" class="avatar avatar--xss" data-user-id="61" data-xf-init="member-tooltip"> <img src="/school/data/avatars/s/0/61.jpg?1617879245" alt="2525777" class="avatar-u61-s" /> </a> <a href="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/members/61/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="61" data-username="@2525777">2525777</a> </span>, yes, I agree. Or it would have been wonderful if they had at least left memoirs with advice for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the latter had published them <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-shortname=":)" /></div>

 

[369]

8030 , 2525777 , But in fact, everything is simple—you only need to love!

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><style> .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } </style> <span> <a href="/school/en/members/8030.84/" class="avatar avatar--xss" data-user-id="84" data-xf-init="member-tooltip"> <img src="/school/data/avatars/s/0/84.jpg?1705829560" alt="8030" class="avatar-u84-s" /> </a> <a href="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/members/84/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="84" data-username="@8030">8030</a> </span>, <style> .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } </style> <span> <a href="/school/en/members/2525777.61/" class="avatar avatar--xss" data-user-id="61" data-xf-init="member-tooltip"> <img src="/school/data/avatars/s/0/61.jpg?1617879245" alt="2525777" class="avatar-u61-s" /> </a> <a href="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/members/61/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="61" data-username="@2525777">2525777</a> </span>, But in fact, everything is simple—you only need to love!</div>

 

[873415]

8030 , 2525777 , But in fact, everything is simple—you only need to love!

It’s not that simple... simply to love...

I studied the psychology of raising teenagers—it was a revelation to me that, actually, family means the people closest to you, and that you are together to love one another. That children are first about love, and only then about upbringing, homework, school, and roles.
If you constantly remember that these are the people closest to you, the context changes dramatically from what you are used to.
A lot of unnecessary things become unnecessary.
It occurred to me that when my parents were raising me, family was about surviving during perestroika, about adapting. About love? No, no one had heard of that.

In the photo, they are holding on to each other, each of them with both hands! Dying is not frightening at all when an old man is lying beside you, whispering, “I’m with you.” Love and heartfelt warmth, free from everything unnecessary....

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/school/en/goto/post?id=2625" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-2625">369 said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent "> <style> .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } </style> <span> <a href="/school/en/members/8030.84/" class="avatar avatar--xss" data-user-id="84" data-xf-init="member-tooltip"> <img src="/school/data/avatars/s/0/84.jpg?1705829560" alt="8030" class="avatar-u84-s" /> </a> <a href="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/members/84/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="84" data-username="@8030">8030</a> </span>, <style> .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } </style> <span> <a href="/school/en/members/2525777.61/" class="avatar avatar--xss" data-user-id="61" data-xf-init="member-tooltip"> <img src="/school/data/avatars/s/0/61.jpg?1617879245" alt="2525777" class="avatar-u61-s" /> </a> <a href="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/members/61/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="61" data-username="@2525777">2525777</a> </span>, But in fact, everything is simple—you only need to love! </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink"><a>Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>It’s not that simple... simply to love...<br /> <br /> I studied the psychology of raising teenagers—it was a revelation to me that, actually, family means the people closest to you, and that you are together to love one another. That children are first about love, and only then about upbringing, homework, school, and roles.<br /> If you constantly remember that these are the people closest to you, the context changes dramatically from what you are used to.<br /> A lot of unnecessary things become unnecessary.<br /> It occurred to me that when my parents were raising me, family was about surviving during perestroika, about adapting. About love? No, no one had heard of that.<br /> <br /> In the photo, they are holding on to each other, each of them with both hands! Dying is not frightening at all when an old man is lying beside you, whispering, “I’m with you.” Love and heartfelt warmth, free from everything unnecessary....</div>

 

[369]

873415 , You see, loving and dealing with life’s challenges are different states, different energies. I agree with you; it is not at all easy to combine these energies, especially when a person has forgotten what love is. Nowadays, you see calculation more and more often rather than love. How often I hear, “I’m comfortable with him, I feel at ease with him, he earns good money,” and not a word about love. But love is a feeling, you see—a feeling where you love not for something, but because your body simply pours out this energy. And if your other half does not know how to experience this feeling, you become unhappy, or rather lonely in your love, but you continue to love anyway. And this feeling concerns not only spouses! If you know what it is, you can love cats, dogs, and fish in an aquarium just as strongly. Love is not finances; after all, they do say, “With your beloved, paradise even in a hut,” while people have added, “If your beloved is in a Porsche.”
Do you understand what is valuable now?

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><style> .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } </style> <span> <a href="/school/en/members/873415.64/" class="avatar avatar--xss" data-user-id="64" data-xf-init="member-tooltip"> <img src="/school/data/avatars/s/0/64.jpg?1748151387" alt="873415" class="avatar-u64-s" /> </a> <a href="https://youryoga.ru/school/en/members/64/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="64" data-username="@873415">873415</a> </span>, You see, loving and dealing with life’s challenges are different states, different energies. I agree with you; it is not at all easy to combine these energies, especially when a person has forgotten what love is. Nowadays, you see calculation more and more often rather than love. How often I hear, “I’m comfortable with him, I feel at ease with him, he earns good money,” and not a word about love. But love is a feeling, you see—a feeling where you love not for something, but because your body simply pours out this energy. And if your other half does not know how to experience this feeling, you become unhappy, or rather lonely in your love, but you continue to love anyway. And this feeling concerns not only spouses! If you know what it is, you can love cats, dogs, and fish in an aquarium just as strongly. Love is not finances; after all, they do say, “With your beloved, paradise even in a hut,” while people have added, “If your beloved is in a Porsche.”<br /> Do you understand what is valuable now?</div>

 

[Веретенников Сергей]

Unconditional love is usually what people mean by true love.
That is, you are ready to give to a person regardless of their behavior—even if it is sometimes negative. This is the highest level of love: when you need nothing from the other person.
Perhaps that is exactly the situation with these elderly man and woman. They already fully understand that death is near. You cannot take anything from the other person, and all you can do is give them a little of your warmth.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">Unconditional love is usually what people mean by true love.<br /> That is, you are ready to give to a person regardless of their behavior—even if it is sometimes negative. This is the highest level of love: when you need nothing from the other person.<br /> Perhaps that is exactly the situation with these elderly man and woman. They already fully understand that death is near. You cannot take anything from the other person, and all you can do is give them a little of your warmth.</div>

 

[369]

When you need nothing from the other person.

That is what I meant.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/school/en/goto/post?id=2633" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-2633">Веретенников Сергей said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent "> When you need nothing from the other person. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink"><a>Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>That is what I meant.</div>

 

[873415]

True love is usually understood as unconditional love.
That is, you are ready to give to a person regardless of their behavior, even when it is negative at times. This is the highest level of love: when you need nothing from the other person.
Perhaps that is exactly the situation with these elderly man and woman. There is already a full understanding that death is near. You cannot take anything from the other person, and all you can do is give them a little of your warmth.

It seems to me that unconditional love—being ready to love regardless of the response—is also the highest level of personal development.

The rabbi put it very beautifully:
"When asked, ‘Why do you eat fish?’, a young man replied, ‘Because I love fish.’ To this I say to him: ‘Oh, you do not love fish. That is why you caught it from the water, killed it, and cooked it. Do not tell me that you love fish. You love yourself. Precisely because you like the taste of fish, you caught it, killed it, and cooked it.’ Much of what we consider love is more like this kind of ‘love of fish.’ Look: a young couple in love. A young man and woman fall in love with each other. What does that mean? It means that he sees in his chosen partner someone who, in his opinion, can satisfy all his physical and emotional needs. In the girl’s opinion, her chosen partner is the love of her life. But each of them is concerned only with their own needs. They do not love each other. The partner merely becomes an instrument for satisfying needs. Much of what we call love is merely ‘love of fish.’ One philosopher said: ‘People are very mistaken when they think that we give something because we love. But here is the answer—the correct answer: you love only those to whom you give something.’ This is the meaning: by giving something to you, I pass on a part of myself. To love is, above all, to give—not to receive. "

[SPOILER ] [/SPOILER]

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper"><blockquote class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> <a href="/school/en/goto/post?id=2633" class="bbCodeBlock-sourceJump" data-xf-click="attribution" data-content-selector="#post-2633">Веретенников Сергей said:</a> </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent "> True love is usually understood as unconditional love.<br /> That is, you are ready to give to a person regardless of their behavior, even when it is negative at times. This is the highest level of love: when you need nothing from the other person.<br /> Perhaps that is exactly the situation with these elderly man and woman. There is already a full understanding that death is near. You cannot take anything from the other person, and all you can do is give them a little of your warmth. </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandLink"><a>Click to expand...</a></div> </div> </blockquote>It seems to me that unconditional love—being ready to love regardless of the response—is also the highest level of personal development.<br /> <br /> The rabbi put it very beautifully:<br /> "When asked, ‘Why do you eat fish?’, a young man replied, ‘Because I love fish.’ To this I say to him: ‘Oh, you do not love fish. That is why you caught it from the water, killed it, and cooked it. Do not tell me that you love fish. You love yourself. Precisely because you like the taste of fish, you caught it, killed it, and cooked it.’ Much of what we consider love is more like this kind of ‘love of fish.’ Look: a young couple in love. A young man and woman fall in love with each other. What does that mean? It means that he sees in his chosen partner someone who, in his opinion, can satisfy all his physical and emotional needs. In the girl’s opinion, her chosen partner is the love of her life. But each of them is concerned only with their own needs. They do not love each other. The partner merely becomes an instrument for satisfying needs. Much of what we call love is merely ‘love of fish.’ One philosopher said: ‘People are very mistaken when they think that we give something because we love. But here is the answer—the correct answer: you love only those to whom you give something.’ This is the meaning: by giving something to you, I pass on a part of myself. To love is, above all, to give—not to receive. "<br /> <br /> [SPOILER ] <span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube"><span><span style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JWIRaXYVg7Q/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover" data-s9e-mediaembed-iframe='["allowfullscreen","","scrolling","no","style","background:url(https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/JWIRaXYVg7Q\/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% \/ cover","src","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JWIRaXYVg7Q"]'></span></span></span> [/SPOILER]</div>

 

[2298298]

Yes, THEY deserved to be together—eternal love in eternal union... They departed into the silence of love. So touching it brings tears to the eyes.

🔊 Listen ⏹ Stop 🌐 Choose language

<div class="bbWrapper">Yes, THEY deserved to be together—eternal love in eternal union... They departed into the silence of love. So touching it brings tears to the eyes.</div>