Grieving husband sleeps next to wife's body for six days AFTER she died

A devastated husband has revealed how he slept next to the dead body of his wife for six days because he did not want her to be taken to a mortuary.

Heartbroken Russell Davison, 50, decided he wanted to be in control of what happened to his partner’ corpse after she passed way from cancer on April 21.

Wendy, 50, was kept in their home for almost a week until he finally decided to take her to the crematorium to say his final goodbye.

She died of cervical cancer after the family shunned traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, saying they wanted to do their “own research”.

Wendy, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in November 2006, passed away in the arms of Russell and one of her two sons, Dylan, at their home in Derby where she said had requested she wanted to die.

Letting agent Russell said after placing her in a “cocoon” he then stayed with his wife because he could’t bear the thought of her being taken away in a plastic body bag.

He even invited relatives around to sit and talk to Wendy which he said provided great comfort to the family and helped them come to terms with their loss.

Russell now wants to convince others that staying close to a loved one’s dead body should nothing to be scared of.

He said: “We have been fooled by TV and films into thinking there is something to be scared about with dead bodies – there is not, I can assure you.

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“For a long time I have been determined to have Wendy at home when she died.

“I did not want her in the mortuary or handed over to a funeral director, I wanted us to take care of her ourselves at our family home, and have her in our bedroom so I could sleep in the same room.

“I was sure this would be a comfort to us all but again I am truly amazed about has happened; having Wendy’s body at home and being able to sit with her all day, have her friends and family come to sit with her, chat with her, chat about her and light candles and incense on her altar proved to be such a beautiful and comforting experience for me, the boys and all who took part.

“My nephews came to visit. They were both a little nervous, never having seen a dead body before, but after a while of being with us all in the room with Wendy they said how peaceful, comforting and reassuring the experience was.

“Something very beautiful happened in our house and I can’t help feeling Wendy made that happen.”

Russell explained how someone would always be sitting in the same room as Wendy in order to “reassure the spirit about what is happening and what needs to happen” before it “transcends”.

He added: “The comfort me and boys and their partners have had from being with family and friends at Wendy’s dead body’s side has been huge.

“I would describe the process as like an emotional decompression chamber, allowing us to start to come to terms with our loss while Wendy is still with us.

“The idea of her being taken away in a plastic body bag hours after death is so alien to us all now we really don’t think we could have taken it.

“Without exception everybody who has spent time with us and Wendy’s body said how right it felt and how this should be the way we treat our dead – not sending them off to the funeral director as is pretty much always the custom now.

“My humble opinion is that you should take control back, and use Wendy’s example as your guidance.”

A memorial to celebrate Wendy’s life will be held at Derby’s County Cricket Ground at 11am on May 14.

Top pic: SWNS