Couple Dies Hours Apart After 61 Years Of Marriage

After spending 61 years together, a Pennsylvania couple died within just hours of each other, the Evening Sun reported.

Nancy Trimmer passed away in her sleep at 12:25 a.m. on Sunday, while husband Richard Trimmer died just 12 hours later, after learning of her death.

The couple's children broke the news to their 81-year-old father, who was in the hospital at the time recovering from a fall. He had also spent years fighting kidney failure, lung cancer and heart problems, the York Dispatch noted.

According to the Associated Press, Trimmer repeatedly uttered the phrases, "Pull me up" and "Hold me tighter now" in the moments leading up to his death.

The high school sweethearts, who had six children and 10 grandchildren, were inseparable.

"She didn't want to be in the house without him," Sue Trimmers, the couple's daughter-in-law, told the Associated Press. "It was all just getting too hard, so God took care of it."

While Richard and Nancy Trimmer's story is remarkable, a similar incident happened just last month when Leroy and Dorothy McLeod, an elderly couple from Florida, died within 36 hours of each other.

Comments

[hueylover]

06:46 AM on 01/26/2012

How amazing and touching - this story, and the others shared here.
When I was young, this was what I dreamed being with a soul mate would be like . .

[Rune Borsjo]

07:12 PM on 01/15/2012

Some people simply go great together, to the point that it seems like they belong together. The thing I *don't* understand is why so many people get married when they clearly don't know or understand eachother, or are even willing to work at a relationship.

[Ginny Parker]

06:31 PM on 01/15/2012

My parents were married 66 years and rarely spent a night apart. During the last year of her life my mom, 87, was fading physically. My parents were fiercely independent. When caregivers came in to help out she and my dad, also 87, would send them away. My dad bathed my mom and cooked for her while she stood over him telling him how to do it. One afternoon my mom got up, dressed in her best clothes and called 911. My dad was shocked when the ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital. Later that night my brother took my dad to visit my mom and he was admitted to the hospital as well. She died 5 days later. My dad died 3 weeks after that. In death as in life, my mom was the one who always led the way for my dad. They were an extraordinary couple.

[mmerose]

06:19 PM on 01/15/2012

An elderly couple who had a little apartment in our house, many years ago, died the same night: he in the hospital, she at home, NEITHER KNOWING OF THE OTHER'S DEATH. Over the years, I have heard many similar accounts.

[chrisl6464]

05:54 PM on 01/15/2012

My father,74, cared for my invalid mother for ten years. When it got to the point where it became to difficult,we had to force her to go to an assisted living facility. My father passed away not to long after. It was if she was the reason he lived. I only hope I can measure up to his example.

[nitro11402]

05:08 PM on 01/15/2012

Yes, this a very sad story. But these two people were together for 61 years. I only wish everyday life is a story such as theirs. We need to celebrate this couple and the love affair that they shared. This my friends, is what true love is all about. Value what you have next to you, look into your familys' eyes and thank the almighty God for the treasure that he has given.

[benice12]

03:16 PM on 01/15/2012

Yes samething happened in my family, my dad passed on wednesday,my mom passed that saturday,my brother who lived with them both passed away that tuesday, we had a triple funeral, that i have and will never get passed the sadness that hurst my heart everyday.

[Nora Keyes]

04:02 PM on 01/15/2012

Wow!! Sorry about that. One death is devastating enough, not to talk of three. God bless you.

[benice12]

06:17 PM on 01/15/2012

thank you, just to ad, my dad passed from cancer, my mom passed from an asthma attack,my brother passed from a heart failure.

[blessherheart]

02:42 PM on 01/15/2012

My parents died on the same weekend, my mother (66 years old) died on a Friday morning then the next night my father (70 years old) died in the middle of the night. My mother had been diagnosed with cancer 1 ½ years before, my father had just been diagnosed 2 weeks before his death; however, he knew he was sick long before but refused to go to the doctor. He did not want to be here without my mother. They were so much in love.

[Rebecca Clemons Riley]

02:30 PM on 01/15/2012

My mom died with my dad in a nursing home. When I went to visit him the next day, he asked me "Who died?". He somehow just knew. He died less than 2 months later trying to tell me something the night before that I couldn't understand. They were married 60 years.

[Gizmo9]

11:40 AM on 01/15/2012

Unfortunately these cases are so rare. Most of us will never find the true soul mate like these couples did. Oh well ....maybe in my second life.

[photodawg]

05:52 PM on 01/15/2012

My Dad and his siblings (2 girls and 1 boy) all married for life. My parents were married for 50 years (2 days short of 51 years), my uncle was married for only 49 years, due to the death of his wife. The sisters both passed 61 years, although one uncle just died in May. As for my generation, there have been 3 divorces (2 are mine), with one coming up. This is out of 10 "kids" in my generation. So you see, it can be done, just not by me.

[Gizmo9]

09:02 AM on 01/16/2012

But looking more for the connection as opposed to longevity. You can be married for 50+ years and be miserable. Long marriage does not mean that the two people are soul mates. Some people just feel they should stick it out even though they are not happy. I rather be alone than to remain is such a partnership.

[Kai Ferano]

07:22 AM on 01/15/2012

A few weeks before a 90-year-old, still lucid, friend of mine passed away, she told me that her deceased close friends were gathered together at the foot of her bed. They were "talking" to her, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. This got this feisty senior lady annoyed!

[mmerose]

06:27 PM on 01/15/2012

I don't get why you were annoyed. This may be a normal part of the "passing over" process, except most people aren't able to communicate when their dear ones come to help. My mom had not been responsive for a day, but when I was holding her head and asked her, "Is there anyone here to meet you?" she very firmly and definitely nodded in the affirmative, within a few minutes of passing very quietly. No, she had had no other tremors or twitches or restlessness of any kind; just that clear, strong nod.

[Kai Ferano]

06:44 PM on 01/15/2012

mmerose -- Oh, no, I wasn't annoyed. Kate was annoyed, because she was unable to hear what her deceased friends were saying to her. The way she described them to me, it seems like they were impatient and trying to coax her to be with them. It's very chilling, but also comforting, yes?

[bunnyhemet]

05:53 AM on 01/15/2012

it happens when two are one, its such a heartbreaking thing, and goes to show that people do die of broken hearts, brings tears to my eyes, that love can be so stong for one another. now they spend so many years here on earth and follow each other to eternity. such a sweet, happy, and sad ending to a new begining with eachother forever. touched my heart deeply god bless them and there families..

[sharon1122]

05:48 AM on 01/15/2012

I envy these people. My husband and I were inseperable and we had a fantastic 29 years together. I always wished we had gone togethere but I guess that was not in the Lord's plan. Twelve years later I still miss him everyday of my life but know I will see him again someday. Like this article it shows there are people out there that truly know what love and marriage is all about.

[Graydonpow]

05:04 AM on 01/15/2012

Stories like this one make me worry about my own Mum and Dad, both in their upper 70's now and married nearly 54 years. We, their six sons, know that Mum is strong and resilient; however, we worried that dad's demand of her time and attention will wear her out first, and then where would that leave Dad? We all have jobs and families and are unable to take him in and give him the attention he needs (I may have forgotten to mention that he has Alzheimer's Disease and is very demanding and dependent on my mum.

[valcomoney]

12:27 PM on 01/15/2012

Graydonpow,
See if the six sons can get together and contribute to pay a professional care giver, for you are correct in that your Mom being the in house caregiver can be detrimental to her health.

[dhutch457]

02:04 PM on 01/15/2012

I agree with valcomoney. My mother took care of my dad's elderly aunt who had Alzheimer's along with taking care of my dad who had emphysema and she worked full time. Eventually she had my aunt put into a nursing home because she just couldn't do it all herself. Ironically, my mother developed Alzheimer's and she lived with us and eventually I had to have my mother put in a nursing home because I just couldn't take care of her, my sick partner and work while only getting three hours of sleep a night. If there is some way you can muster up the money to get your mom some help with your dad it will be a much better thing for everyone involved. Good luck!

[drsensai]

04:31 AM on 01/15/2012

This should teach everyone a serious lesson about the power of love, and the truth, that the "Other Side" is something very powerful, yet comforting, in ways we may never really understand,
I am a "Thanatologist" in "Anticipatory Grief" I counsel those who are preparing for their own passing.
I have seen this Phenomenon, with a couple, who were diagnosised with the exact same CA, in the same area, they shared a room in a Hospice. The Husband passed first as she held his hand, she said..."wait for me I'm coming" less than 30 hrs later, she left. I will never forget them, working and talking with them weeks before, was very rewarding and quite amazing. What a gift to give and share.

[diawhait 1]

04:54 AM on 01/15/2012

What a unique experience you share with others. What a special person you must be.

[drsensai]

11:16 AM on 01/15/2012

Thanks for your thoughts, It's he patients and families who are special and allow me to share this gift they bring. Most of all life's lesson I have learned and seen in the many years (20) that I have had this career, has been the most rewarding.

[gin11153]

05:18 AM on 01/15/2012

Such a sad story. I would cry daily if I worked in Hospice.

[drsensai]

11:18 AM on 01/15/2012

I understand how many feel this is sad of course, It is always sad when we experience such a great loss. Being able to share in one of life's most important times, maybe your own mortality, gives you a new outlook on life and it's lessons.