Couple dies on same day after 65 years' marriage

SIXTY-FIVE years of happy marriage ended on the same day for one elderly couple in eastern China's Jiangsu Province when an 83-year-old widow died at home three hours after her husband passed away.

Wei Xiuzhen finally closed her eyes around noon last Thursday at her home in Yizheng City. She was still in tears after her beloved husband Li Lingguo, 83, passed away about 9am that morning, today's Yangtse Evening News reported.

The couple had been happily married since they were 18 years old, according to their niece Li Zide.

"They had done everything together in the past 65 years: growing plants, feeding pigs and harvesting grains," said the niece.

Wei loved playing mahjong before she fell ill three years ago. On those days, Li would do all the housework when she played and waited to dine with her, their neighbor Li Chengzhong remembered.

Since Wei became paralyzed and bedridden in 2006, Li dedicated all his time to take care of her, the neighbor said.

But Li's own health began to deteriorate in June, the neighbor told the newspaper.