TORONTO -- A Michigan couple married for more than 47 years died from COVID-19 on the same day, within a minute of each other.
Patricia, 78, and Leslie, 75, McWaters both died from the disease on Nov. 24 at exactly 4:23 p.m. local time, according to for the couple.
鈥淭he hospital staff that cared for them, as they lost their battle to COVID, said it was too close to call. They recorded their deaths at the exact same time,鈥 the tribute said.
Joanna Sisk, the couple鈥檚 daughter, said the family believed Patricia likely died before her husband, known as 鈥淟D.鈥
鈥淏ut I can tell you this, that when they passed, we really do think, that mom, the boss, she definitely went to his room and took him by the hand and said, 鈥楥ome on, LD. Let鈥檚 go,鈥欌 Sisk told local television station WDIV on Sunday.
The McWaters were married on April 16, 1973 and, according to their family, they were inseparable ever since.
鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful, but it鈥檚 just so tragic鈥 kind of like Romeo and Juliet,鈥 Sisk said. 鈥淥ne wouldn't have wanted to be without the other.鈥
According to their obituary, Patricia worked at Foote Allegiance Hospital in Jackson, Mich. for 35 years as a registered nurse in the OR while Leslie was a truck driver and a veteran of the United States Navy Reserves.
In their free time, the couple enjoyed going out dancing at the bar where they first met, hosting summer pool parties, and driving their 鈥59 Corvette to car shows.
鈥淭hey did almost everything together, so it should be no surprise that they went to be with the Lord together within the very same minute,鈥 the obituary read.
They also always made time for their family, which includes two daughters, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
And while Patricia was known as a 鈥渘o-nonsense person,鈥 Leslie was 鈥渇un-loving鈥 and the 鈥渒ing of one-liners,鈥 including his all-time favourite: 鈥淚t鈥檚 too far from your heart to kill you!鈥
Despite being 鈥減olar opposites,鈥 the family said the McWaters were able to make their marriage work for nearly 50 years.
鈥淥verall, I think that it was just give and take. They picked their battles,鈥 Sisk said.
As Michigan continues to grapple with COVID-19 鈥 more than 388,000 cases and 9,500 deaths as of Nov. 30 鈥 Sisk said she hopes her parents鈥 story helps people to understand the severity of the disease.
鈥淧eople were talking about it and not knowing that my parents were in the hospital, both fighting for their lives with it, and I just had tears streaming down my cheeks, listening to them,鈥 Sisk said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough enough to lose one parent, but this was the worst鈥 Our entire family is completely devastated.鈥
With files from WDIV
