Wilf and Doris Kelly died within 24 hours of each other last week holding hands after 61 years of marriage
An inseparable elderly couple who died 24 hours apart were able to spend their last moments holding hands after nurses pushed their beds together.
Doris and Wilf Kelly passed away last week after 61 years of marriage. They had seven children, 16 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
The Kelly family from Newyton Aycliffe in County Durham were touched when nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital made sure the couple were treated on the same ward and were next to each other when the time came.
Mr Kelly, 83, was in a temporary care home over the summer and was briefly allowed to go home before being admitted at the end of August.
Mrs Kelly, 84, was rushed to hospital with her own health problems soon after when she received the news her husband was seriously ill.
They were both transferred to ward 41, where hand in hand surrounded by their family, Mrs Kelly died on the morning of September 1, followed by her husband in the early hours of September 2.
The inseparable couple had seven children, 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Pictured on their wedding day in 1956
One of their seven children, Bernadette Moscrop, said: ‘The staff on the ward noticed the family were visiting and moving from one room to the other to see mum and dad.
‘I thought it was absolutely amazing when the nurses put them into a shared room and then, at the end they put their beds together in one room and my mum passed away holding my dad’s hand.’
‘The empathy shown by the nursing staff really demonstrated the amazing support, care, information and patience that was provided to the Kelly family during such a heart-breaking time.
Mr Kelly, 83, and Mrs Kelly, 84, were cared for by their son Shaun in their later years. Pictured together in 1989
‘For this the family will always be grateful.’
The devoted couple celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary just a week before on August 25 and had been cared for by their son Shaun for several years.
Ward sister and manager Natalie Walker said: ‘We hoped that nursing Mr and Mrs Kelly side by side would be comforting for them and it was touching to see them holding hands, despite both being frail.
‘Being kind and thoughtful is an essential part of caring for patients and their loved ones.
‘This must be a very difficult time indeed for Mr and Mrs Kelly’s family and our thoughts are with them.’
When nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital (pictured) realised the Kelly family had to keep visiting different rooms to see both their parents, they made sure they were treated in the same ward and even pushed their beds together