Couple Die Minutes Apart After Nearly 70 Years Of Marriage
A couple died minutes apart after being married for an impressive 69 years, and now their long, loving relationship is being compared to a fairy tale. Giuseppe and Livia Fortuna met and married in Rome. They celebrated their gold anniversary back in 1995. That’s 50 years, and it was nearly two decades ago. In 2005, they celebrated their diamond anniversary at the 60-year mark. On June 24, 2015, the couple would have celebrated 70 years of marriage, otherwise known as a platinum anniversary.
The loving couple died minutes apart at the nursing home where they lived out the last year of their lives together. Deteriorating health and an unfortunate fall forced Livia to move into the Smith House Health Care Center. Giuseppe joined her approximately one year later, after spending time at another facility, and Smith House is where they passed away just minutes from each other in the room that they shared. Fifty minutes separated the death of 91-year-old Giuseppe and his 86-year-old wife. Some say she died from a broken heart.
Giuseppe suffered from dementia and cancer leading up to his death. Livia was suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease, according to the New York Daily News.
The Fortunas left behind three children: 67-year-old Giuliana DiGeronimo, 62-year-old Angela Munzenmaier, and 51-year-old John Fortuna. The children agreed that their parents were a loving couple who couldn’t bear to live without each other.
“They probably couldn’t live without the other,” daughter Munzenmair said. “They are in a good place and don’t have to suffer anymore… they can just be happy.”
If this story sounds familiar, it’s because it is. Just last month, another couple died minutes apart, according to a previous report by the Inquisitr. Devoted couple Harry and Mavis Stevenson died within 10 minutes of each other after a 65-year-long marriage that gives new meaning to the phrase, “Until death do us part.” Harry died first, and his wife died shortly thereafter, even though she was reportedly in good health. Like the Fortunas, a family member insisted the Stevensons wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
It isn’t every day that a couple dies minutes apart, but it isn’t unique either. Yet another loving husband and wife departed this world in close succession after 65 beautiful years of marriage. Italvino and Diva Possa died earlier this year as they lay side-by-side in the same hospital room, only 40 minutes apart.
[Image of Giuseppe and Livia Fortuna via SFGate]
