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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew York Couple Married 78 Years Die 2 Days Apart
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
(66,388 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)May they rest together in peace for eternity.
malaise
(269,054 posts)marble falls
(57,106 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,490 posts)tparrett62
(268 posts)Sorry, I always loved that joke...
Upthevibe
(8,053 posts)been able to meet their love in this life time....
bucolic_frolic
(43,182 posts)Some people really find their mate!
LiberalFighter
(50,950 posts)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 persons risk of death increases under those circumstances.
Harvards 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 persons 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 persons 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
(9,904 posts)Hulk
(6,699 posts)If my lifelong partner left this world, and I was past the 90 threshold, I wouldnt take another perscription pill either, and would probably be right behind her.
Bless their happy, loving life together. At 70 Im 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! Im coming right behind you!
pazzyanne
(6,556 posts)Condolences to their family and friends.
irisblue
(32,982 posts)B Stieg
(2,410 posts)and this time, beyond time...