Henry De Lange (86) and Jeanette De Lange (87) had been married for 63 years. And when they exchanged vows over six decades ago, they obviously took the phrase “’til death do us part” to heart. Because Henry accompanied Jeanette to Heaven only 20 minutes after she went. And the family is certain that this was God’s will!
The South Dakota couple enjoyed 63 years of love and laughter.
They had five children at the time. And those children, now adults, couldn’t imagine a greater finish to their parents’ beautiful love story.
“You don’t pray for it because it seems mean but you couldn’t ask for anything more beautiful,” says their son, Lee.
The Last Years
Jeanette got Alzheimer’s disease near the end of their lives and was admitted to a nursing facility. Henry, a Korean War veteran, would pay her multiple visits throughout the day. And his unwavering devotion touched the couple’s children.
However, as Henry’s health deteriorated, he realized it was time to join his wife. Following a couple of falls and a prostate cancer diagnosis, he requested to be admitted to the same nursing home as his bride.
Together Again
In a sweet gesture much appreciated by the couple’s children, the nursing home placed the husband and wife who’d been married 63 years in the same room.
One day recently, Henry confessed to his son, “I don’t know how many more days I have Lee. How many more days the good Lord will have me here.”
The nursing home soon called to inform the couple’s children that neither parent was doing well.
It’s Time to Go Home
Only two of the children (including Lee) arrived on time. They gathered around their parents and read the Bible till Jeanette died peacefully at 5:10 p.m.
“We read Psalm 103. We didn’t quite get done,” Lee recalled. “She passed away very, very peacefully. Incredibly peacefully.”
They gently broke the news to Henry once they were sure Jeanette was gone.
“He [Henry], for the first time, opened his eyes, looked intently over where mom was. Closed his eyes back down,” Lee explained. “Laid back down, died about 5 or 10 minutes after that.”
t was 5:30pm when Henry died. After being married for 63 years, the couple was separated by death for only 20 minutes.
Though it was painful to lose both of their parents, the couple’s children consider this timing a blessing from God.
“We’re calling it a beautiful act of God’s providential love and mercy,” Lee said.
Hear more about this sweet couple in the video below:
