I’ve just heard that a relation by marriage died during the night. He was in his 80s and had been ill for some time so it wasn’t unexpected. His death is probably a merciful release. He had cancer which had spread and there was no hope of treatment, just alleviation of the pain. This was so bad that he was prescribed morphine.

My thoughts are with his wife. They had been married for about 65 years and had known each other since they were in their early teens. At the moment, his wife is coping but probably because it hasn’t really sunk in yet.

I can’t imagine losing a partner that you have lived with for 65 years. When the full impact of his death hits his wife, I imagine she will feel as if she has lost a limb. They have been retired from work for about 20 years and so have spent most of every day together.

How sad it must be for her even if she also feels his death was a merciful release.