14 January,2011 01:19 PM IST | | Agencies
A British couple, who was truly devoted to one another, passed away within 11 hours of each other after being married for nearly 70 years.
Bert Swan, 93, passed away from a chest infection in the Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, not knowing that his wife Doreen 91, had died earlier in the day at their nursing home.
The couple had moved into the 62-room Merlin Court nursing home in Marlborough because they could no longer look after themselves at their home in Ramsbury.
They were in different units as Doreen had dementia, but they always gave each other "a kiss on the lips" when they met, and liked to sit together holding hands.
"They always gave a kiss to each other on the lips every time they met. They were very much a loving couple," the Daily Mail quoted nursing home manager Mandi Short as saying.u00a0
They will have a joint funeral next week conducted by Rector of Ramsbury The Rev Sam Weeden.
"They were inseparable. He worked all over the world advising governments and companies on particular techniques in metallurgy," Weeden said.
"Doreen was very much the person who lived at home and looked after the family. That was her whole life.
"They were devoted to each other. In retirement they did everything together. I have not done many funerals where both parties are still alive after such a long time married," he added.
