Double coffin for devoted couple

The couple had been married for 60 years and had two daughters, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Photo / Thinkstock

A devoted husband and wife married for 60 years who died within days of each other will be buried together in a double coffin - holding hands.

Victor and Elsie Bower, from Sheffield, will be laid to rest at a service tomorrow.

Mrs Bower, 80, died on February 17, nine days after her beloved husband Victor, 82, died from blood cancer.

Their daughter Sharon said the couple were teenage sweethearts and would not have wanted to be apart. She is convinced her mother died of a broken heart.

"They were always together," she said. "They used to cry a lot if they ever had to spend time apart.

"They lived together and died together, so it was only right they went together too. I want them to go together holding hands."

The couple had been married for 60 years after tying the knot on March 27, 1954, and had daughters Sharon and Susan, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr Bower was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and had gone into remission, only for it to return last year.

Mrs Bower suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had pneumonia when she died in the Northern General Hospital on February 17.

Sharon, 54, said: "They were really close and always together. Mum was in a wheelchair and on oxygen and because of that she never got to see him in hospital, which upset her.

"We were going to try and get her down, but he died the night before."

Sheffield funeral director Michael Fogg, based in Woodhouse, was happy to help the family with their unusual request.

Mr Fogg said it was the first time a double coffin had been used in South Yorkshire.