Can you die of a broken heart? It appears you can. Our local paper ran a story about Vera Guthrie. Vera had been married to Tom for over 65 years. He died six months ago. According to family members she was broken hearted after her beloved husband died. And in fact, she died ‘when her aorta split.’
Contrast this lasting marriage, where she was broken hearted without her long term husband, with one I heard about recently. After costing over the parents of the supposed happy couple $30,000 for the wedding, the marriage lasted a total of six months. Wouldn’t you feel like asking for your money back?
But back to the Guthries and their lasting marriage. The wedding took place during World War 2. After the war the couple lived in South Africa and then later Northern Rhodesia, which is now Zambia, where they lived for a further 25 years. The couple migrated to Queensland, Australia in 1974 but part of their hearts were obviously still in Africa as they returned to Zambia and then later moved to Angola where Tom worked in the diamond mines and they experienced a terrorist war. They finally put down roots in Australia in 1983.
I didn’t know this couple but the photo in the paper shows a laughing couple in each others arms. From all reports, that is they way they will both be remembered.
Vera was 86 when she died and married approximately 65 years to Tom, so if you work it out, she was 19 when they married – which just goes to prove that it’s not always young marriages that fail. Many young marriages actually end up lasting.
What a legacy of love and commitment Vera and Tom left to their three children, their six grandchildren, their community, and friends throughout the world. Wouldn’t you like to think your marriage and your life would be as well remembered by others? I know I would.
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