This week should have been a big celebration for the Boxer family. John and Mary Boxer were supposed to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
A big celebration was supposed to be held for all of their family members.
However, the big celebration turned into two funerals, as the couple died due to coronavirus, days apart.
The family held the funeral for the dad, John, when the mother, Mary, died.
Battling coronavirus
John was the first one who fell ill. He was rushed to the hospital by his family. Then he was sent home because the doctors did not find anything wrong.
A few days after, he was again brought to the hospital, and he was tested for coronavirus. The result came out positive, and he was supposed to be sent home again.
However, when he was about to go home, he could no longer stand, and he felt exhausted.
The father stayed in the hospital. After seven days, he passed away.
John had diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
His partner, Mary, stopped eating after John died. The daughters of the couple thought it was because their mother was grieving, but after a few days, her oxygen level dropped.
When she was brought to the hospital, she was tested for coronavirus. The results also came out positive. She was admitted to the hospital, but the family communicated with her through video calls.
While the family was attending the funeral of their dad, they missed the calls of the hospital. When they phoned the hospital, they learned that the mother also succumbed to death.
Supposed 60th anniversary
The daughters of the couple were looking forward to the wedding anniversary of John and Mary this year. They were planning to book a hall and have one of the sons-in-law to be a singer.
The daughters were planning the entire celebration, but they had to put everything on hold when the coronavirus pandemic hit the world.
Instead of having a big celebration, the family is now planning to celebrate the couple's lives next year. They would like to have their families together.
A joint memorial is also intended to be done later this year.
Despite the daughter's grieving nowadays, they are holding on to one small comfort - that their parents are together again.
John and Mary's early life
The couple met and became friends when they were still a child. They lived in the same part of Sunderland, England.
Both John and Mary belonged to a big family.
The father worked in a telecommunications company, while the mother was a cleaner in a hospital.
Mary had to stop working when she looked after her mom, who was 103 years old. Mary's mom died at the age of 106.
They have two daughters, Elaine and Glynis.
