Wife dies of 'broken heart'

A Black Country widow who could not bear to live without her husband of 63 years died of a "broken heart" less than two weeks after he passed away.

Emily Attwood was admitted to hospital just days after her husband Wesley died from natural causes.

He had been in hospital for several weeks before moving to Netherton Green respite home, where he died on January 11 at the age of 89.

Emily, aged 88, had refused to go to bed without Wesley at their home in Park Lane, Lye, Stourbridge, during his stay in hospital and died less than two weeks later on January 23 after developing blood poisoning.

Her family say the condition stemmed from ulcers in her legs. "She would sleep in the chair downstairs and she did that for a couple of months,"

Mrs Wood said. The couple's family have now organised a special joint funeral to be held at Stourbridge Crematorium on Friday.

Cousin Jane Taylor said the couple had met at school as teenagers and married in 1944 while Wesley was on leave from the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, where he had served in Europe and the Middle East.

After the war Wesley was a metal worker and spent much of his working life based in Mucklow Hill, Halesowen, while Emily worked for plastics firm Myers in Langley.

They never had children but remained happily married for 63 years, celebrating a diamond wedding anniversary in 2004 with family and friends.

Niece Ann Wood said her Aunt Emily just "gave up" after Wesley died. She said: "She was admitted to hospital but was only there a few days.

"The nurse said it was a classic case of a broken heart. She had nothing to live for anymore.

"We managed to get her up to the nursing home before he died. When he saw her he brightened up and said, 'I will never ever forget this day'. It is a sad time but it shouldn't be – they are together again now."

The funeral is at 2.10pm on Friday at Stourbridge Crematorium.

By Wayne Beese