The following is from Amazing Things In The World
“This is what six decades of love looks like.
James and Lauretta Burke were married 64 years. They met when James returned home from serving as an army officer in World War II. When a neighbor introduced him to Lauretta, he said he knew immediately that he wanted to make her his wife.
But she wasn’t ready yet. Lauretta insisted on finishing school at Mt. Mary College before getting married. So the Saturday after her graduation, they exchanged vows. They went on to have five children, twenty-three grandchildren, and a very happy life.
A few years ago, at the age of 87, Lauretta was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Shortly after, James had to have surgery to implant a pacemaker, which kept him in and out of the hospital for months.
“He was basically living for her,” the couple’s granddaughter said. “They were like the same person after being together for so long, and he didn’t want to give up because she knew that he needed him there.”
James used his last moments to amend his will so that his wife would have the best possible treatment for her Alzheimer’s when he passed on. On November 13, 2012, he passed away and left a legacy of love in his wake.”
I recently worked with a family the husband had cancer and the wife has Alzheimer’s, We had a pick-up at their home as they were moving. Not long after the man passed away. We were called to do another pick-up at their daughters home. Her mother was there and as we moved the items from the home and put them in the truck I would go in and out of the room. Sometimes the woman would think I had just got there and introduce herself. The Alzheimer’s did not let her even remember that her husband was gone and the family had not told her being she could not remember him anyway. I was not sure if I should be sad that she didn’t remember her husband of so many years or be happy for her that she didn’t have to live through the pain of her loss.
That’s horrible man…. just a horrible thing to have to think about. But it is life and something we all have to face in one way or another. Thanks for commenting Bill. Hope everything is well with you!