
From My WindowIssue Date: July 20, 2016 "Til Death Do Us Part
By Jane Thibodeau Martin,
I read a daily and a weekly (of course the Times!) newspaper almost cover to cover " so at least 8 papers per week. One of my favorite parts of the paper is the obituaries. That may seem a bit morbid, but I find it fascinating, and in most cases, uplifting, to read about the lives of people I don't know at all. Of course it's hard to read obituaries of very young people, or those who die tragically. But many of the obituaries are loving tributes to ordinary men and women being recognized for their hard work, successful lives, contributions to society, and as fierce caregivers and guardians of their families.
One of the phenomena I have noticed in doing this for decades, is that it is more common than could be coincidental for long-married people to die within a week of one another. A recent obituary in Tulsa listed the wife, in her late 80's dying, and within 48 hours her husband, in his early 90's, passed away as well. I have seen similar situations in the Peshtigo Times, and have heard many people talking about this happening to someone in their church, family, or neighborhood. I'll bet a lot of you reading this column know of someone that this happened to.
I was reminded of this while going through my father's papers, where we found an original clipping from the Peshtigo paper from the year 1952. It noted the death of my great-grandfather, Edward Thibodeau, on a Friday night in 1952 at 87, causing the cancellation of the funeral of his wife Mary, my great-grandmother, already scheduled for the very next morning. She'd passed away on Wednesday. Instead, a double funeral was scheduled for Monday, for the couple wed for 64 years, and died less than three days apart.
Often when this happens people will say "He/she died of a broken heart" when their long-time spouse passes away. And that may be true. But when I hear about my great-grandparent's lifetime partnership, I prefer to think of it as him finally giving in to his worn-out body, knowing that his life's work in taking care of his wife was complete. "Well done, good and faithful servant. Come to your rest."
It's not the same when a husband and wife are parted when one of them dies while they are both relatively young. There is still work to do, perhaps, taking care of children, or elderly parents, and the surviving spouse wills themselves to pick themselves up and go on. They grieve, maybe for the rest of their lives, but know that their "job" on earth is not yet finished; they have more to give; and that the spouse will be waiting for them when the right time comes.
Instead of thinking about a broken heart causing such husband/wife deaths, which makes me sad; I prefer to think it is an incredible tribute to the strength of their bond, which they continue to honor as they leave this world for a better place.

Recent stories, opinions and photos
Issue Date |
Department |
Headline |
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Debra J. Zeitler

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Donald R. Wene

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 John C. Van Schyndel

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lois L. Trever

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Robert C. Rasmussen

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Dolores M. Pendl

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Allen V. Mundt

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Janice A. Minecke

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Christine S. Malarski

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Marilyn Lunsford

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Richard L. Julian

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Daniel J. Jahns

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Daniel J. Jahns

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Clara G. Hart

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Jacqueline P. Hamilton

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Joseph Degeneffe

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Richard O. Davis

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Wayne Damp

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Benedict V. Banaszynski, Jr.

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Walter V. Anderson

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Richard C. Alley

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Margaret R. Rhude

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Marianna C. Schmidt

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lois C. Gustafson

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Blake E. Gustafson

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Jamie A. Field

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Ronald A. Ellie

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Gary F. Doyen

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Marie H. Chaltry

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Stanley J. Budnik

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 George J. Barrette

|
04-19-2018 | Obituaries |
 Donna Bannow

|
04-19-2018 | Sports |
 Focus on safety for spring turkey season

|
04-19-2018 | Sports |
 Area Teams Ready To Begin Diamond Seasons

|
04-19-2018 | Sports |
 " Baseball Preview"" Marines Will Rely on Strong Pitching Staff

|
04-19-2018 | Sports |
 Hundreds of Walleye Waters Offer Great Fishing in 2018

|
04-19-2018 | Perspectives |
 Country Cousin

|
04-19-2018 | Perspectives |
 From My Window

|
04-19-2018 | Perspectives |
 From our readers

|
04-19-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Wausaukee Students Earn Awards at Music Event

|
04-19-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Country Gospel Jam Friday, April 20th

|
04-19-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Equity Park Craft, Vendor Fair June 16

|
04-19-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman Library Book Sale

|
04-19-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman Students Earn Music, Choir Awards

|
04-19-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman Band To Debut New Uniforms

|
04-19-2018 | Front Page |
 Marinette Man Dies In City Car-Motorcycle Accident

|
04-19-2018 | Front Page |
 Blizzard Brings Marinette Co. Emergency Declaration

|
04-19-2018 | Front Page |
 Peshtigo School Board Seeks One New Member

|
04-19-2018 | Front Page |
 $1,000 Reward For Stop Sign Vandals

|
04-19-2018 | Front Page |
 Anderson Again Heads Marinette County Board

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Harold Anderson

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Howard M. Arndt

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lisa M. Becker

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lawrence J. Block

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Joan E. Bohaczek

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Amy A. Boyle

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Joanne Downs

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Arnold Hummel

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Shirley Mae Logan

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Ethel W. Martz

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Marilyn Messenger

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Charlotte Miller

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Felecia B. Miron

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Christina L. Okon

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 James J. Parnitzke Sr.

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 William S. Rademacher

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Jack Salewski

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 James D. Schmid

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Elizabeth A. Stewart

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Diane A. Vanden Brook

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 James R. Wankowski

|
04-12-2018 | Obituaries |
 Gerald W. Wozniak

|
04-12-2018 | Sports |
 Bulldogs Look For Continued Success in New Conference

|
04-12-2018 | Sports |
 Henrigillis Leads Peshtigo Baseball into Packerland

|
04-12-2018 | Sports |
 WIAA Winter Team Tournament Sportsmanship Awards Selected

|
04-12-2018 | Sports |
 Mother Nature Puts a Strangle Hold On Area Spring Sports sold On Spring Sports

|
04-12-2018 | Perspectives |
 Country Cousin

|
04-12-2018 | Perspectives |
 From our readers

|
04-12-2018 | Perspectives |
 From My Window

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Wausaukee Blood Drive Thursday, April 19th

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Town of Wagner Meets April 18

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Silver Cliff Fire and Rescue Auxiliary Meets

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Lions Club Interested in Park Renovations

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Princess Ball at Crivitz April 21

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Middle Inlet May Schedule Clerk/Treasurer Referendum

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 LNRD To Meet April 12

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Crivitz Junior High Lists 3rd Quarter Honor Rolls

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Faith Christian Lists Honor Roll

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman School Adds 10 Minutes Per Day

|
04-12-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman Elementary Students Reach Goal of 75 Million Words

|
04-12-2018 | Front Page |
 Bert Johnson Celebrated 100th Birthday April 6th

|
04-12-2018 | Front Page |
 County Moves Toward Mental Health Court

|
04-12-2018 | Front Page |
 Council Okays Evergreen Loan, Upholds Firing, Closes TIF Fund

|
04-12-2018 | Front Page |
 Questions Raised Over REC Project Delays

|
04-12-2018 | Front Page |
 Northwoods Recycling Coalition Continues Plans For Dissolution

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lynne Baeten

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Mary Edna Beyer

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Russell Christensen

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lillian S. Huss

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Roger L. Kamka

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Richard Larson Jr.

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Janet M. Mueller

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Lois M. Neuman

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Eileen F. Peterson

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Scott C. Pettey

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Robert Picazo

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Alice E. Polzin

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Amanda R. Schiiller

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Wilbur Storey, Jr.

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Thea J. Swenson

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Paul W. Van Acker

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Russell C. Vincent

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Leona G. Webber

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Helen Wojcik

|
04-05-2018 | Obituaries |
 Gerald W. Wozniak

|
04-05-2018 | Sports |
 Baiting and Feeding Bans in Effect for WI

|
04-05-2018 | Sports |
 Spring Turkey Hunt Begins April 18th

|
04-05-2018 | Sports |
 MYBI Baseball/Softball Tryouts Slated for April 7

|
04-05-2018 | Sports |
 Farley Heads M&O First Team Selections

|
04-05-2018 | Perspectives |
 Country Cousin

|
04-05-2018 | Perspectives |
 From My Window

|
04-05-2018 | Perspectives |
 From Our Readers

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Ravishing Matriarchs Red Hats Meet

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Wausaukee Seeks Grant For Park Improvements

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Post 66 Legion Meeting April 7

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Wausaukee |
 Wausaukee Blood Drive On Thursday, April 19th

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Affordable Health Screenings in Crivitz

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Crivitz Rescue Squad to Offer Youth Scholarships

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 CAWC To Meet Apr. 19

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Crivitz |
 Crivitz Bowhunter's Club Holds Fundraising Banquet

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman Water Sewer Utility to Meet Apr. 9

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Growing Berries at Home Hosted by Coleman Library

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Coleman Announces T-Ball Registration

|
04-05-2018 | Community - Coleman |
 Klondike Sportsmen's Club Hosts 19th Annual Banquet

|
04-05-2018 | Front Page |
 School Referendums Voted Down In Peshtigo, Pass In Coleman

|
04-05-2018 | Front Page |
 Coleman Fire Dept. Meat Raffle April 8

|
04-05-2018 | Front Page |
 Coleman School District Voters Approve 2 School Funding Questions

|
04-05-2018 | Front Page |
 Crivitz Business Association Lists Persons of the Year

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Jack W. Anderson

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Karl W. Baumann

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Stephen Behling

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Jamie M. Braun

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Fern L. Engel

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Phyllis H. Fifarek

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Gloria Goeres

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Edwin Hilbert

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Doug Johnson, Sr.

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Henry R. King

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Kenneth A. Konz, Jr.

|
03-29-2018 | Obituaries |
 Margaret F. Kubitz

|
|
|
| |
|