Yahoo News Elderly couple died holding hands within minutes of each other after 69 years of marriage
Married couple Isaac and Teresa Vatkin passed away within minutes of each other as they lay side by side in an Illinois hospital last weekend.
Hospital staff, realising both pensioners were close to death, had moved their beds next to each other so they could be close in their final moments.
The couple, who had been married for 69 years , were surrounded by close family, who helped them put their hands together.
"I didn't want them to be scared," said granddaughter Debbie Handler. "I thought maybe if they knew the other was there, it would help."
Isaac and Teresa were both originally from Argentina. They married in 1947 and moved to the US, where Isaac went into business as a kosher meat distributor, while Teresa worked as manicurist.
Teresa, who was 89 and had suffered from Alzheimer's, died first. Isaac, 91, followed 40 minutes later.
Their family took comfort in the fact the couple died together. "You didn't want to see them go," said grandson William Vatkin, "but you couldn't ask for anything more."
"Their love for each other was so strong, they simply could not live without each other," said daughter Clara at a joint funeral service Monday in Arlington Heights.
"They were always in love, literally to the end. To the last second," said Rabbi Barry Schechter, leading the service.
