Married 60 Years, Couple Die Within 60 Hours

Matthew and Marguerite Harper were devoted to one another throughout their married life. Their children say their deaths at a Novi hospital within hours was a testament to their enduring love. (Photos via Borek Jennings Funeral Home)

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Inseparable in life with the kind of marriage their friends envied, a Michigan couple married 60 years died 60 hours apart last week at a Novi hospital.

Family members said they were saddened by the loss of Matthew Harper, 83, and his beloved wife, Marguerite, 80, who died of natural causes. But they also appreciated the statement their hours-apart deaths made about the power of their love.

“They taught us growing up to stick together, love and care for one another, and that’s exactly what my parents did with each other when they passed away,” their daughter, Joanne Thornhill told the Livingston Daily Press & Argus.

Another of the couple’s eight children, daughter Frances Harper, said her parents’ marriage was one that others strived to emulate, and her dad possessed the qualities she hopes to find in a husband.

“One of my dad’s friends told my dad he apologized to his wife because he would never be as good of a husband as Matthew was to my mom,” she said.

Both had been in poor health.

Matthew was suffering from bronchitis when he took Marguerite, who had been sick off and on for several years, to Novi’s Providence Hospital on Monday, Dec. 29. She died later that day. Matthew was admitted on Tuesday and died on New Year’s Eve.

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“My mom knew she was going to pass, and my dad would pray he could take care of her before God took him,” Thornhill said. “It eased our hearts a bit because he got what he wanted and we didn’t have to wait and watch him suffer.

“We couldn’t believe they died exactly 60 hours from one another, but they stuck together.”

Deaths a Reminder to Treasure Life and Love

Normally when married couples die almost simultaneously, it’s in a tragedy, said Todd Borek of Borek Jennings Funeral Home, which handled funeral arrangements.

“We always hear about couples dying together of tragedies, but never of natural causes, so it’s just a beautiful story,” said Borek, who described himself as a close friend to Matthew.

“It’s a unique situation that happened and reminds us of how precious life and love really is,” he said. “He took care of her, and they were a very close couple and a great family overall. It’s not something you hear about every day.”

A joint Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Hamburg.

In addition to Frances Harper and Joanne Thornhill, the couple are survived by five other children: Matt Harper, Larry Harper, Jim Harper, Mark Harper and Terry Duley; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

They were preceded in death by a son, Danny Harper.

Originally from the South Shores area of Chicago where they were members of Our Lady of Peace Parish, they moved to Pickney and then bought a condo in Howell. According to an obituary published by The Chicago Tribune, memorial contributions may be made to Haymarket Center, 932 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607.