‘Soulmates’ who were married for 52 years lie next to one another and hold hands one last time – before dying from cancer just days apart

A devoted couple married for 52 years lay lovingly next to each other in their final moments – both dying just days apart.

Chris and Lynne Johnson, who were separated for barely a day after fifty years of being together, stood next to each other for the last time when they both died of cancer.

In a heartbreaking photo, the two ‘soul mates’, who had two adult children, lie next to each other at the Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Shortly after the photo was taken, Lynne, 69, passed away on February 13, followed by Chris, 76, who passed away on February 21.

Their daughter Julie Whittaker shared the poignant photo in a moving tribute to her beloved parents, recalling that her father was there for her mother’s “last breath”.

“He held her hand and it gave him so much comfort,” she said.

‘When his mother died, it took him a few days to process it. On Saturday he burst into tears and said, “Is Lynne really gone?”‘

She explained that after Chris realized it, he “didn’t eat or drink anymore.”

“He was devastated that his mother had died and just gave up,” Julie said. “I don’t think he would have died that day if his mother had still been alive.

“The ultimate goal was to make sure they stayed together until the end, and that wouldn’t have been possible without Ashgate.”

Lynne had been battling an aggressive brain tumor while her husband was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. In their final days, the couple were cared for in the same hospice room.

Chris was a milkman when he met Lynne on his rounds. They married in June 1972.

The couple had two children, Gary and Julie, and were described as “true soul mates” who were never apart.

Chris was a milkman when he met Lynne on his rounds and they married in June 1972

The couple (Lynne pictured centre and Chris on the right) had two children, Gary and Julie (left), and were described as ‘true soul mates’ who were never apart.

“They did everything together,” Julie recalls. “Except when they were working, they were never apart; they were true soul mates.”

‘Even today it doesn’t feel real. It wasn’t that long ago that they died – how did they just go away?

“It was such a whirlwind, everything happened so fast. I’m just so thankful that Ashgate was able to keep them together.”

Chris, who later worked as a bus driver before retiring, was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer last October.

Just three months later, Lynne, a former caregiver, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor.

The couple were moved to adjacent rooms in the hospice until the staff fulfilled their final wish: to spend their last days together.

Julie described the care as “phenomenal,” both for her parents and the entire family.

Chris, who later worked as a bus driver before retiring, was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer in October last year. Just three months later, Lynne, a former carer, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a cancerous brain tumour. Both pictured when they were young

Chris and Lynne Johnson – who had spent barely a day apart after five decades together – stood next to each other for the last time when they both died of cancer

Julie (pictured) is now calling on the government to review funding so more people can access end-of-life services

“Hospice has been with us from the beginning and continues to be with us now,” she added. “If we both couldn’t be cared for in hospice, it would have been so heartbreaking for us to choose who we would be with. Having them together has given our family so much more time with both of them.

‘The hospice is such a wonderful place and we have been so well cared for.

‘It’s the little things, they think of everything and do everything they can to help patients, families and visitors.

‘Dad enjoyed a glass of wine and his brother Alwyn came to visit my mother and my father’s dog Tess every day. Alwyn and Tess were there when Dad passed away, which was a special occasion for him.’

Julie is now calling on the government to review funding so that more people can access end-of-life services

She added: ‘Not only is everyone entitled to the terminal care my parents received, but having patients in a hospice rather than a hospital eases the pressure on the NHS.

‘Nothing is too much trouble for the hospice staff; there is so much love and compassion.

“I wish more families could be cared for as well as we are.”