A couple who were married for 75 years realised their greatest desire was to take their last breath in each other’s arms. Just like the scenes from the 2004 film The Notebook, Mr. Toczko died in his wife’s hug as he lay beside her and Mrs. Toczko, joined him less than 24 hours after her husband passed away.
Alexander Toczko, 95, and his wife, Jeanette Toczko, 96 who lived in San Diego, California had spent most of their lives in love with each other.
The romantic couple had been together since they were eight years old
The Toczkos who were children of Polish immigrants started dating when they were youngsters before the relationship flourished into a romantic relationship.
They then tied the knot in 1940
Following their marriage, Mr. Toczko worked as a telegraph operator for the U.S. Navy and later moved to New York City with his family where he worked for an advertising firm. In 1971, the couple moved to San Diego where Mr. Toczko established his own advertising and fashion photography firm, Blue Sky. Meanwhile, Mrs. Toczko worked as her husband’s chief stylist.
Mr. and Mrs. Toczko loved travelling together to places like Bermuda
Mr. Toczko also enjoyed playing golf and he was a passionate golfer and a regular figure at Balboa Golf Course. He also had an interest in drawing and spent his time sketching at the golf course
Unfortunately, his health started to deteriorate after he fell and broke his hip, leaving him bed-bound.
Due to his condition, a local hospital sent a special bed to their home where the bed was placed next to his beloved wife’s bed
As Mr. Toczko’s health declining, Mrs. Toczko’s health started to take a turn for the worse.
Several days before their death, the couple had always said that they wished to die ‘in their own bed, holding hands, in each other’s arms’
The couple’s daughter, Aimee Toczko-Cushman described the moment before her parents’ death. It was June 17 but Mrs. Toczko who was confused told her children that the date was June 29 – the day she and Mr. Toczko would have celebrated their 75th anniversary.
‘We said happy anniversary, and my mother was thrilled because it was their anniversary and she knew that he was going and that they had made it to 75 years,’ said Mrs. Toczko-Cushman.
That day, Mr. Toczko died peacefully in his wife’s arms. Their daughter then told Mrs. Toczko that her husband has passed away. “I told my mother he was gone,” she said.
She hugged him and she said, “See this is what you wanted. You died in my arms and I love you. I love you, wait for me, I’ll be there soon”
Less than 24 hours later, Mrs. Toczko joined her husband
The couple had 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
“Even the hospice nurse said it was the most incredible thing to see the two of them taking those last breaths together,” Ms. Toczko-Cushman said of her parents.
The childhood sweethearts were buried at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego.
Their true love has attracted many people to comment on their official obituary page. One comment wrote: “Thank you, Janet and Alexander, you used your own actions to prove to us that love is infinitely tolerant.”
