An elderly couple who were together for over 60 years died just hours apart on the same day.
On May 14, New Zealand couple Peter and Ruth Bedford passed away just nine hours apart.
Mr Bedford was 86 and Mrs Bedford was 83.
New Zealand couple Peter (pictured right) and Ruth Bedford (pictured left) died just nine hours apart on May 14, after being married for over 60 years following their 1957 marriage
In his youth, Peter emigrated to New Zealand as a ’10 pound pom’ and met Ruth, from Wellington, at a dance in Auckland.
The couple wed on December 30, 1957 and were inseparable for over 60 years.
The pair moved to Kaikohe in 1980.
Ruth worked as a law clerk and Peter was employed as a caretaker at the Northland College, working until he was 80 years old.
Mr and Mrs Bedford enjoyed bush walking, music and concerts together.
‘It’s good they went together,’ daughter Caroline Bedford told Stuff NZ. ‘They would have been completely lost without each other.’
The devoted couple moved to Kaikohe, New Zealand in 1980 and are survived by three children and two grandchildren (stock image)
Peter Bedford was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening.
‘I think Mum decided he wasn’t coming back,’ said Caroline.
‘She died at 10am on Monday morning and I got a message to Dad. He followed her about nine hours later,’ said Caroline.
Granddaughter Cadence Bedford, 31, told the New Zealand Herald that her grandfather was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening.
‘It’s good they went together,’ daughter Caroline Bedford told Stuff NZ . ‘They would have been completely lost without each other’ (stock image)
‘We had a feeling she [Ruth] decided he wasn’t coming back,’ she said.
Cadence Bedford said that it was ‘a beautiful thing’ for her grandparents to pass away on the same day.
The couple are survived by three children, Michael, Simon and Caroline, and two grandchildren. Their funeral will be held in Kaikohe on Wednesday.