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Washington:
An American couple, who had been married for 75 years fulfilled their final wish to die in each other's arms after they passed away holding hands, within hours of each other.
Jeannette and Alexander Toczko were both born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1919. The couple began dating when they were 8-year-old, according to their children Richard and Aimee.
Jeannette, 96, and Alexander, 95, married in 1940. They moved to San Diego in the early 1970s.
They wanted to be together until the very end.
On June 17, just a couple weeks shy of their 75th wedding anniversary, their wish came true when Alexander died in Jeannette's arms. Hours later, Jeanette died as well.
"They said they wanted to go in their own bed holding hands and in each other's arms," the couple's son Richard Toczko told ABC affiliate KGTV.
The hospice was able to bring a bed for Alexander into their home, positioning it right beside the one Jeannette was using.
"And he died in her arms, which is exactly what he wanted," their daughter Aimee Toczko-Cushman said.
"I went in there and told my mother he was gone; she hugged him and she said, 'See this is what you wanted. You died in my arms and I love you. I love you, wait for me, I'll be there soon.'"
The couple, who had been dating since grade school, would have celebrated their 75th anniversary on June 29. The family celebrated it early this year.
Alexander played every day, until he broke his hip in a recent fall, Toczko added. Alexander's health quickly declined.
As her husband's condition worsened, Jeannette's health also faded.
The couple was buried on June 29.
Jeannette and Alexander Toczko were both born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1919. The couple began dating when they were 8-year-old, according to their children Richard and Aimee.
Jeannette, 96, and Alexander, 95, married in 1940. They moved to San Diego in the early 1970s.
They wanted to be together until the very end.
On June 17, just a couple weeks shy of their 75th wedding anniversary, their wish came true when Alexander died in Jeannette's arms. Hours later, Jeanette died as well.
"They said they wanted to go in their own bed holding hands and in each other's arms," the couple's son Richard Toczko told ABC affiliate KGTV.
The hospice was able to bring a bed for Alexander into their home, positioning it right beside the one Jeannette was using.
"And he died in her arms, which is exactly what he wanted," their daughter Aimee Toczko-Cushman said.
"I went in there and told my mother he was gone; she hugged him and she said, 'See this is what you wanted. You died in my arms and I love you. I love you, wait for me, I'll be there soon.'"
The couple, who had been dating since grade school, would have celebrated their 75th anniversary on June 29. The family celebrated it early this year.
Alexander played every day, until he broke his hip in a recent fall, Toczko added. Alexander's health quickly declined.
As her husband's condition worsened, Jeannette's health also faded.
The couple was buried on June 29.
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