There are personal stories we sometimes hear which, although tinged with huge sadness, are simultaneously so heart-warming and beautiful that they make us love and appreciate life and those around us to the point where we almost want to shed tears — tears of joy. This is one of those stories. This has to be one of the most soul-stirring things we’ve heard in a long time — read it, and you’ll be filled with hope and gratitude.
Alexander and Jeanette Toczko came from San Diego. Alexander was 95, and Jeanette was 96. They’d been companions since they were children, from the age of just eight, and they were married in 1940. Alexander was a WWII veteran. ’Their hearts beat as one from as long as I can remember,’ said their daughter Aimee.
Married in total for 75 years, Alexander and Janet told their children they wished to die in each other’s arms. When it was time, the couple’s wish was fulfilled. They were together right up to their final minutes.
One fateful day, Alexander fell and broke his hip, recalls Aimee. His health took a turn for the worse, and, Aimee said, ’He was going fast.’ Not long after, Jeanette herself fell ill.
The elderly couple were provided with beds so that they could spend their last hours side by side with each other.
Jeanette kept asking her children, ’What is today, what is today?’ They told her it was June. ’She said it’s June 29th, and June 29th is their 75th wedding anniversary,’ recalls Aimee.
’And we said happy anniversary, and my mother was thrilled because it was their anniversary and she knew that he was going and that they had made it to 75 years.’
The rest of the family then left, leaving the couple to share their final moments together.
’Even the hospice nurse said it was the most incredible thing to see the two of them taking those last breaths together,’ their daughter recalls.
In the end, Alexander died in his wife’s arms, which is exactly what he wanted. She hugged him and said, ’See, this is what you wanted. You died in my arms and I love you. I love you, wait for me, I’ll be there soon.’
About 24 hours later, Jeanette finally passed away as well. They left behind five children, ten grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
