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“Do you think our love is strong enough to take us away together?”
This quote from the novel and film, The Notebook, is considered by many
to be one of the most powerful and romantic lines from any story. The
question epitomizes the last act of unconditional love between the
story’s main characters, Noah and Allie. Those familiar with Nicholas
Sparks’ beloved tale know that Noah and Allie’s enduring devotion spans
from the moment the couple meet as teenagers until they pass away
holding hands together in a nursing home bed. The moment when Allie and
Noah depart the world together struck a romantic cord in so many because
it demonstrated how true love can transcend death
The more dramatic elements in the Notebook may make Noah and Allie’s
relationship seem unrealistic to some. Many are unaware their story was
largely inspired by the love shared between the grandparents of the
author’s wife. What makes Noah and Allie’s tale even more relatable,
however, is the fact that so many real-life couples share the same
beautiful ending to their story. These couples shared an everlasting
devotion that inspired everyone around them to love wholeheartedly.
Their enduring passion for one another never waived, even during the
final moments of their lives. And their love was strong enough to take
them away together.
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These are their stories.
From: State Center, Iowa
Married for: 72 Years
How they met: Gordon and Norma Yeager were lifelong companions who
rarely left each other’s side. In 1939, the couple got married within 12
hours of their engagement on the day of Norma’s high school graduation.
For more than seven decades, Gordon and Norma traveled, worked and
raised their two children together. They even participated in the same
clubs and ran family businesses so they could remain close to one
another at all times.
Their enduring love story: Norma and Gordon spent their lives
side-by-side and that is the same way they left this world. The couple
was driving into town when a car accident sent them both to the hospital
with injuries. Both Norma and Gordon were highly concerned about one
another, asking their children how the other was doing until it became
clear to the hospital they should be moved into the same room. According
to witnesses which included family and hospital staff, when Gordon’s
breathing stopped, his heart still continued beating on the monitors. It
wasn’t until Norma passed an hour later that it finally stopped, leading
their loved ones to believe that Gordon waited so they could enter the
afterlife together.
“All their life has been together,” said the couple’s daughter, Donna
Sheets. “So, when it came to the funeral home, the family asked, ‘Can we
have them put in the casket together holding hands?’ Because that’s the
way their life was.” |
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From: Southwest Ranches, Florida
Married for: 45 years
How they met: When Tom was working as a game warden in the Florida
Everglades, he stopped at a drug store where Shirley worked. The couple
quickly discovered a shared love for the outdoors. The adventure seekers
were inseparable during their marriage as they raised their four
children and explored the Florida Everglades and other distant locations
together. Both Tom and Shirley had a strong connection to the Everglades
where they loved airboating and camping. They were dedicated to
preserving it for future generations.
Their enduring love story: Earlier this year, Tom was hospitalized for
heart trouble. As Shirley was being driven from her home to visit him,
she also suffered a heart attack and passed away. Unknown to Shirley,
Tom had passed away just 15 minutes earlier in the hospital. The couple
never learned of the other’s passing and were both spared the pain of
losing their spouse. The legacy they left behind includes four children
and eight grandchildren.
The couple’s son, Troy Shirley, told reporters, "Dad didn't know that
she had passed, and she didn't know that he had passed. I don't
understand it, but it's beautiful." |
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From: Batavia, NY
Married for: 60 years
How they met: Several months before Ed and Floreen met, Floreen survived
a car accident that tragically took the life of her husband of only 3
months and doctors mistakenly told her she would not walk again. Then at
a county dance in 1952, Ed and Floreen’s eyes met and it was love at
first sight. Ed was determined to marry Floreen despite her injuries,
telling her skeptical parents that he was willing to carry her in his
arms every day for the rest of their lives. Throughout their marriage,
he doted on her, earning the nickname “Saint Ed” from friends and
relatives for his unwavering devotion.
Their enduring love story: When Ed was diagnosed with kidney failure, he
refused to allow the illness to prevent him from taking Floreen on
special trips. He fought hard for five years, wanting to keep the
promise he’d made that he would not die until after she did. After a leg
injury grew gravely worse, he was taken to a local hospital where
doctors expected him to pass. At the same time, Floreen was being taken
to a different hospital 35 miles away with conjunctive heart failure. Ed
was determined to be with Floreen and after expressing his wishes to
everyone around him, a hospice nurse helped the two hospitals to
coordinate a transfer. They would accept Ed as a patient at Floreen’s
hospital if he could survive the 35-mile trip. Miraculously, Ed
rebounded and was able to make the journey. He was taken to Floreen’s
room where the hospital staff moved their beds close together so the
couple could hold hands. Astonishingly, witnesses say their bodies were
in complete sync on the medical charts. Ed kept his promise, waiting for
Floreen to go before he passed away 36 hours later.
"My dad was a saint, my dad cared for her his entire life," said Renee
Hirsh, the couple’s daughter. "He was a gentleman to the dying breath." |
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From: Monroe, NC
Married for: 64 years
How they met: After returning from the war in 1948, Frank stopped at a
car dealership and immediately noticed Eleanor working as a secretary.
When the car salesman asked if he wanted to take a test car, he said
only if Eleanor came with him on the drive. The two were married only a
few months later. Frank and Eleanor spent more than six decades
together, raising two children and traveling to live in different areas
around the country.
Their enduring love story: When Eleanor began to suffer from early signs
of dementia, the family decided to put her in a nursing home. Frank
visited frequently, not wanting to be apart from his wife, even when he
began experiencing his own symptoms. Several months later, Frank moved
into the nursing home too. Instead of ringing for a nurse, Eleanor would
call Frank who was always nearby to attend to his wife’s needs. Then,
both Frank and Eleanor suffered a stroke at the same time. The couple’s
daughter captured a moving photo of them holding hands in the hospital
during their last moments together. Shortly afterward, Eleanor was moved
to a hospice facility and passed away four days later. Frank died only a
few hours later, unaware of Eleanor’s passing.
The couple’s daughter, Linda Purser, told reporters, “They thought
alike; they both wanted the same things out of life. They were the same.
And they were lost without each other.” |
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From: Westmont, PA
Married for: 65 years
How they met: James and Marjorie met at a dance while they were both
with other people. The chemistry was instant. The two quickly became a
couple and married in 1946. Throughout their lives, the couple was
inseperable and their two children have a difficult time locating any
photo of them where they were not together. They had a strong, shared
faith and enjoyed many of the same activities, including bird watching
and board games.
Their enduring love story: James was at Marjorie’s side when she passed
away following a long illness. The couple’s granddaughter, Erin Miller,
told reporters the last thing James said to Marjorie was: “It’s OK. I
love you. We had many good years together. I will see you real soon.”
Only 88 minutes later, James suffered a heart attack and passed away.
"I just think he died of a broken heart," Miller said. "I don't think
they could have lived apart from each other."
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