New York Couple Married 78 Years Die 2 Days Apart

[left-of-center2012]

According to their family, 98-year-old Evelyn Bennett Drake died July 20 and 100-year-old Gilbert Orzell Drake died two days later. Both died of natural causes with their family by their sides at the couple's home in Delmar, an Albany suburb.

The family says Evelyn would've turned 99 on Aug. 8, while her husband would've been 101 on Aug. 10. Granddaughter Elizabeth Officer says the Drakes were married Oct. 13, 1939.

In addition to their two sons and a daughter, the Drakes are survived by Elizabeth Officer and four other grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A private graveside family service is planned.

https://tinyurl.com/yc2xllrx

[Aristus]

1. Together forever...

[smirkymonkey]

2. Oh, what a sweet couple!

May they rest together in peace for eternity.

[malaise]

3. Lovely

[marble falls]

4. And oh so rare.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. I'm a big fan of obituaries. I see this all the time.

https://www.google.com/search?q=couple+dies+within+hours+of+each+other

[tparrett62]

6. But were they able to save the baby?

Sorry, I always loved that joke...

[Upthevibe]

7. Yes. I hear this happens quite often for those who've

been able to meet their love in this life time....

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Born 2 years 2 days apart, deceased 2 days apart

Some people really find their mate!

[LiberalFighter]

9. That is great and all

but when they get that old the odds are their death will be close to each other. It is all about the factors involved in their health.


Two studies in the 1990s found an elderly person’s risk of death increases under those circumstances.

Harvard’s Christakis and Allison published their study in The New England Journal of Medicine in February. It found elderly people to be particularly at risk immediately after their spouse is hospitalized or dies.

When that happened, the other person had about a 20 percent greater chance of dying within a year, the study found. The riskiest period was in the weeks following the traumatic event and the danger began to subside within three to six months as, the authors surmised, the person adapted to his or her loss.

Christakis’ study also found that some diseases took a greater toll on spouses than others. Cancer, for example, appeared to be less burdensome on spouses than dementia. Emphysema, an illness often associated with smoking, where a person’s lungs slowly cease to function, took a particularly severe toll.

The more a disease impairs the physical and mental functioning of a person the more harm it does to the health of the spouse, the authors found.
Experts suggest two broad ways serious illness and death of a spouse can harm a person’s health. First, the direct emotional stress can wear down elderly people, who often have health problems. Second, a person might be deprived of social, financial or emotional supports that are key to their well being.

While bereavement plays a part, there are other reasons couples might die simultaneously. One explanation is that married couples tend to share an environment and, therefore, both good and bad habits of daily life.

[benld74]

10. Together in life and forever after

[Hulk]

11. Hate to be cynical, but..

If my lifelong partner left this world, and I was past the 90 threshold, I wouldn’t take another perscription pill either, and would probably be right behind her.

Bless their happy, loving life together. At 70 I’m starting to entertain thoughts. I have my loving wife and four children with all of their families. They are what keeps me caring. Being 28 years older, and losing my party with fragile health....”Wait for me! I’m coming right behind you!”

[pazzyanne]

12. They go together into the next level of life!

Condolences to their family and friends.

[irisblue]

13. True loves kiss 🕯️rest in peace

[B Stieg]

14. Love Wins Again!

and this time, beyond time...