A couple married for 74 years have died just hours apart on the same day.
Odileta Pansani de Haro and Paschoal de Haro died 10 hours apart, two days after their 74th wedding anniversary.
In their twilight years, Odileta was cared for by her husband after developing Alzheimer’s.
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But in 2023, Paschoal was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.
Their loved ones say that after the devastating news, he began praying to God that he and Odileta would take their last on the same day.
His prayers were seemingly answered, as reported by Need To Know.
The couple were born in Brazil. Odileta in Mirassol and Paschoal from neighbouring Bálsamo.
They first met in the main square of Votuporanga when she was 15 and he was 18.
Their romance began when Paschoal absent-mindedly spanned a small chain.
It accidentally flew out of his grip and landed on Odileta’s arm, sparking laughter between the pair.
They tied the knot in April 1951 and went on to have six children.
Odileta looked after the kids while Paschoal worked at a fabric shop.
Their children went on to have children of their own, and the couple were later blessed with great-grandchildren.
Together, they founded a charity in Votuporanga to donate baby clothes to single mothers and food to those in need.
Their son-in-law Luciano Leal told local media: “They were always welcoming, always loving, always willing to help others, anyone, with no distinction of race or social status.
“They always stood for self-love and the love they had for one another.
“And they poured that love into helping those around them.”
Odileta and Paschoal celebrated their last wedding anniversary surrounded by their family.
Luciano said: “It’s a love story worthy of a film.
“They always said they’d leave together – and they did.
“They lived, they loved, and they triumphed in this great passion they had for each other. And they leave behind this beautiful family.
“Their legacy will live on forever.”
Odileta died at 7 am on 17 April, aged 92, and Paschoal died at 5 pm that day, aged 94.
They were in the same room at their home in Votuporanga, north-west of São Paulo, Brazil.
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