A 100-year-old couple who had been married for nearly eight decades died within hours of one another in the same hospice after "a long happy life together". Centenarians June and Hubert Malicote from Ohio, US, had been husband and wife for 79 years and shared three children together, as well as seven grandchildren, the Mirror r eports.
Their son Sam, 76, said that his mother had become very ill the day after Thanksgiving and was admitted to the Hospice of Hamilton in Ohio for end of life care. He revealed that his father was devastated by the news of his wife's poor health and ''broke down'' before soon being transferred to the same hospice himself.
The lifelong lovers, who were both unconscious for five days, shared a room together in the facility. Hubert sadly passed away in his sleep on November 30, from what Sam believes to be a ''broken heart'' after he ''fell apart'' when his beloved wife's health began to deteriorate
The devoted couple left this world together, as June passed only 20 hours later, at 6pm on December 1. Sam said: "They went out together. I feel sad, but I shouldn’t. Who can expect to live a life like that? They lived a long, happy life together and they were devoted to God and the family."
The couple first met as teenagers in 1941 at a church service in Kentucky and were engaged just a year later, aged 20. Hubert popped the question to his sweetheart while he was on leave from the US Navy. He previously told Local 12: "When I saw her, I said she’ll be a good one."
The couple settled down in Hamilton, Ohio, and started a family after Hubert finished his US Navy duties and began working at a technology company called Diebold Inc. June went on to become a stay-at-home mum for their three kids and was proudly praised by Hubert for her "terrific" efforts.
Hubert told WLWT: "She was a terrific stay-at-home mom. She made the girls' dresses and she planted a big garden. She canned and preserved, she was a good stay-at-home mom."
In June this year, after celebrating 79 long happy years together, the couple revealed their top secret to a successful long lasting marriage. The pair shared that the key to a great relationship is to never argue with one another and put your partner before your own feelings.
Hubert said: "We didn’t go through life without problems, but we would never do anything to hurt each other. If there’s controversy, you might have to walk away for a couple minutes.
"Then you come back in and change the subject or you work it out." June added: "We haven't had one quarrel. You never want to hurt the one you love. Put them first, above your own feelings. If you have difficulties, work them out. I would say don't go to bed mad."
The precious couple shared that they loved spending time with each other by watching western movies and making sure they sat down and ate together every night. Hubert said: "We’ve never really gone out much.
"When the kids were younger we were happy sitting around the table sharing stories about our day. We’ve had a wonderful life."
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