They were together 50 years and married for 48 – and this week they died within four minutes of each other, while holding hands.
A family in North Carolina has suffered two losses, after a husband and wife died just minutes apart from each other after a long battle with coronavirus. Picture: Summersett Funeral HomeSource:Supplied
A North Carolina couple passed away moments apart from the coronavirus, as they held hands.
Johnny Lee Peoples, 67, and his wife, Cathy Darlene Peoples, 65, both died from the virus after a month-long battle with the infection on September 2 at a Salsbury hospital, People reported.
As their time came to an end, the staff at the Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center moved the couple into the same room so they could comfort each other with one last goodbye, their son, Shane Peoples, told WBTV.
“Everything just went south, everything just got worse,” he said.
“The next day they put them in the same room, same ICU room, they put their hands together, the nurses gathered around and they passed within four minutes of each other.”
Cathy and Johnny Peoples. Picture: Summersett Funeral HomeSource:Supplied
The couple had been together for 50 years and married for 48. Shane is now left to grapple with the loss of both parents at once. Their funeral was held on Wednesday outside with attendees observing social distancing guidelines.
“It was mainly the fever and loss of taste,” Peoples said, explaining his parents’ early symptoms. “My dad started showing symptoms two days later. About two weeks later they were both put in the ICU.”
Shane reportedly penned a heartfelt Facebook post earlier in the week, writing: “My parents weren’t just a blessing for me, my brother, my sister, our spouses, and our children. They were a blessing to every person that met them. My mum had the most beautiful soul of anyone you could have met.”https://e.infogram.com/ff90709f-586a-4ed2-9102-08c3a6ab0346?parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fworld%2Fcoronavirus%2Fglobal%2Fcouple-held-hands-as-they-died-moments-apart-from-covid19%2Fnews-story%2F21072c32cb89a918c9752ba7c1a9fa70&src=embed#async_embed
He stressed to WBTV that the virus must be taken seriously and urged readers on Facebook to wash their hands, practice social distancing and wear a mask.
“It’s not a joke. It’s not a hoax,” Peoples said. “I just don’t [want] anyone else to get hurt. I don’t [want] anyone to feel the grief that we’re feeling.”
This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced here with permission
