In a piece last week, we took a look at the science behind broken heart syndrome, where elderly couples with decades-long relationships die within days of each other.
It’s the kind of human interest story which will often reach the newspapers. But, as Dean Burnett notes in his piece, it also has some science behind it.
The piece struck a chord with our readers, many of whom ended up sharing their own experiences in the comments.
My parents deaths within weeks of each other nearly six years ago was particularly heartbreaking to experience; my father was diagnosed with leukemia a year earlier,and my mother,who had responded well to treat she had for overian cancer seven years before,began to deteriorate from that point onwards,to the extent that she passed away first with my father dying five weeks later;both were in their early 70's.
It wasn't necessarily the case that either died from broken hearts,but I in fact nearly did with my own health declining very badly to the point that I was close to death two years after with the constant chronic abdominal pains proving too much with me only just pulling through in the end.They were my last close family which made it extra hard to cope with,but I have recently made contact with my father's long lost half-brother who I hope to meet this year,which was sadly part of a feud that lasted over 60 years which I hope can end on a happier note after the very tough times I have gone through emotionally and physically over this time.
When my husband died suddenly, after 30 years of marriage, I had very bad heart pain - as though someone were twisting a knife in my chest - for the first month. For the first two weeks I took it quite seriously, but had neither the time nor the inclination to go the doctor, After that, I just got used to it and decided that if I hadn't died by that time, I was unlikely to do so later.
Now I know that it was indeed a stress-related reaction, and that indeed I could have died as a result. Nearly two years on, I'm still not sure whether that wouldn't have been a better outcome.
My grandfather sat in his armchair and died hours after returning from my grandmother's funeral.
My grandfather, Charles, and grand mother, Louise, 84 and 80, died of natural causes in their bed together, probably Charles first and Louise shortly after. The doctors couldn't say precisely. They had been married for over 60 years, with a five years separation while Charles was prisoner of war in Germany, Poland and Russia. Charles was a beautiful gentle 6.4ft giant with a big voice who could still startle me and put me back in the right path even when I was a young adult. Louise was the beautiful, elegant, wise provider of endless delicious waffles (with cassonade) and conversation in her kitchen. Charles coffin was much bigger than Louise's as they laid side by side in the church at the funeral. The priest so moved as he read the bible's song of love instead of the usual funeral texts. I am an atheist but will always thank this man I had never met before for his words. Tomorrow in Paris, their great-granddaughter, her name is Clara Louise, she is 18 and a Law student, will march in Paris for freedom, democracy and solidarity, for Charlie Hebdo, and the victims of the past few days in France. Many others and I will march too.
My grandparents died within 12 hours of each other. In some way it was beautiful.
Inspired by their comments, we’d like to collect more stories like this from our readers. Do you know of any relatives or friends where both partners died very close together? What can you tell us about their relationship?
We’d like to hear your memories about the couples and please share their pictures, if you’re happy to. The best submissions will be used in a follow-up piece on the Guardian.
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In St Mary's churchyard Whitby there is the grave of Francis and Mary Huntrodds, both born September 19, 1600, married on that day (I'm not sure which year), and died on that day, 1680, within 5 hours of each other. In the meantime they also had 12 children.