COVID-19 CLAIMS COUPLE
Pair passed away two days apart
For months, Richard and Lynda Reeves cloistered themselves in their Windsor home, fearful of tragic outcomes if they contracted COVID-19.
Then, in early December, Richard went to a hospital for necessary lung surgery.
He was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 16.
Lynda died from the disease on Dec. 18. Two days later, Richard followed her.
“It's really hard to lose both your parents at any time, let alone around Christmas time,” said Shelley Labute, one of the Reeves' three daughters.
Shelley said both her parents were in their 70s and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They were well-aware that they were in the most vulnerable category for COVID-19.
“They didn't go out, other than maybe a car ride,” Shelley said. “They were both very scared of COVID.”
But Richard's surgery at the Ouellette campus of Windsor Regional Hospital couldn't be avoided or postponed, as he was dealing with lung cancer.
Shelley said the procedure went well, and she felt her father was in “pretty good health” for 75 years old, despite his cancer diagnosis. “The treatment was successful, and he was supposed to be back to his normal self in two weeks.”
Lynda, 73, was more severely afflicted with COPD.
“She knew that if she caught COVID, there was really no chance for her to survive,” Shelley said. “She was already on oxygen all the time.”
Since the start of the pandemic in Canada, the Reeves limited their close contact with family and friends, despite having many loved ones, including five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
One of their daughters — Julie, who shares their home — did all of their grocery shopping.
Julie, 43, and her five-year-old daughter have both since tested positive for COVID-19.
Shelley said one of the hardest things to deal with about the sudden double loss has been the physical separation. Her parents were unable to see each other in person in hospital, and the family witnessed Richard and Lynda's final moments remotely, via video chat.
“(The hospital) wouldn't let us in, because of COVID. I even offered to suit up, like in a haz-mat suit. But they wouldn't allow it,” Shelley said.
Melanie Baillargeon-reeves, another daughter of the couple, said the family at first didn't want to inform Richard of his wife's death, out of concern that the knowledge would affect his efforts to survive.
“But before he passed, we did let him know on Whatsapp that mom was waiting on the other side, and it was okay for him to go to her,” Melanie said.
The couple's marriage lasted 53 years, their relationship starting in their hometown of Sarnia as high school sweethearts.
Richard's work took them to Wallaceburg in the 1970s, then Tilbury, and finally Windsor in the 1990s.
His job was another testament to longevity: for more than half a century, Richard's employer was the Windsor Star.
It began with delivering newspapers as a teenager. By the time Richard retired, he was a district manager in the circulation department.
Lynda was also a Windsor Star employee, working in the printing plant as a hopper feeder for many years.
Melanie said her father continued to work for the Star even after retirement, returning to newspaper delivery as a senior citizen.
“He was going around with flyers and everything up until last year,” Melanie said. “He loved what he did. It kept him active, gave him exercise. He just loved the Windsor Star.”
Richard and Lynda were also dedicated snowbirds, annually wintering in Florida.
Lynda took delight in slot machines, while Richard enjoyed music — especially country music artists like Conway Twitty and Reba Mcentire.
“Dad took us to Nashville for the Country Music Awards on three different years,” Shelley recalled. “They loved to travel, they loved to spend time with their family.
“They were loving, caring, generous people.”
Melanie said her parents' deaths should serve as another reminder to the public of the seriousness of COVID-19, and the importance of preventive measures like mask-wearing.
“Until it hits you as hard as it has hit us, you just don't know,” she said. “I would hate to see any other family go through this.”
Arrangements were made with Reaume Funeral Home in Tilbury. Shelley said the family intends to hold a private graveside service at Lakeview Cemetery in Sarnia in the spring.
He was going around with flyers and everything up until last year. He loved what he did. It kept him active.