This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
Les and Freda Austin, a devoted couple from Michigan, left an indelible mark on the hearts of their loved ones with their 70-year marriage, which ended in a poignant yet beautiful way.
The couple, both 90, entered hospice care on December 6, 2019, and were placed in beds side by side. Just a day later, they passed away within 20 minutes of each other, a testament to the unbreakable bond they shared.
Les and Freda met in high school and tied the knot in 1949. They had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November 2019, a milestone that would prove to be their last.
"They did everything together. They didn’t stop with death," their daughter, Sandy Maes, recalled in an interview.
The couple's love story was filled with adventure, shared passions, and a deep commitment to each other. Freda was an avid cook, with a collection of over 1,000 cookbooks, and was famous for her chocolate chip and sour cream cookies. Les, on the other hand, had a fascination with John Wayne memorabilia and lighthouses, which they explored extensively throughout Michigan and beyond.
Despite a disagreement over Les's decision to join the military during the Korean War without telling Freda, their love endured for seven decades. "Seventy years together sure isn’t easy … but at the end of those 70 years together, they still cared so deeply for each other and loved each other so, so very much," their granddaughter, Leah Smith, said.
The couple's family and friends were deeply moved by their passing, with many finding solace in the fact that they were together until the end. "I’m so happy they went together," Smith added. "I think it would have been torture for either of them to be here alone."
Les and Freda are survived by their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Their funeral services were held on December 17, 2019, in Mason, Michigan.
