Couple who had been married for 54 years kill themselves because 'neither wants to live without the other' after husband's terminal cancer diagnosis

  • Joseph Howard, 80, and Jacqueline Titterton, 78, took their lives in November
  • Mr Titterton, from St Asaph, North Wales, was diagnosed with terminal cancer 
  • Pair wrote letters to friends, the police, and their solicitor about decision
  • The Tittertons, who enjoyed travelling, wrote in note they had had a 'great life' 

A married couple killed themselves  because they didn't want to live without each other after learning the husband had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Joseph Howard and Jacqueline Titterton, who lived in St Asaph, North Wales, left jointly-signed letters explaining the decision for their friends, the police, and their solicitor.

The pair, who had been married for 54 years, wrote 'neither one of us wishes to live without the other', adding that they had had a 'great life'.

Before taking their own lives on November 13 last year, the couple left their key with their next-door neighbours so police could enter their home, and labelled items with the names of the people who they wanted to receive them.

An inquest into their deaths at Ruthin Coroner's Court ruled that the pair died by suicide.  

Joseph Howard and Jacqueline Titterton, who lived in St Asaph, North Wales, took their own lives because 'neither one of us wishes to live without the other' after Mr Titterton was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. Pictured: their home

Joseph Howard and Jacqueline Titterton, who lived in St Asaph, North Wales, took their own lives because 'neither one of us wishes to live without the other' after Mr Titterton was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. Pictured: their home 

Mr Titterton, 80, a retired research and development officer with glass manufacturers Pilkington, had been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.

He was receiving palliative care at home where his Mrs Titterton, a former nurse, was able to help look after him.

Among those who received letters was Anthony Jones, a close friend from their childhood days.

He said the Tittertons, who had no children, enjoyed travelling, especially cruises, and shared the same hobbies of music and photography.

Their next-door neighbour, Denbighshire County Councillor Andrew Thomas, said in a statement that Mr Titterton had begun looking frail but seemed 'OK' a few days before his death.

His wife Susan Thomas described them as 'lovely people' and said the tragedy came as a real shock. 

She had thought it odd that Mrs Titterton had, only the previous day, given her a park-and-ride ticket for Chester, telling her she would not be using it.

On the morning of November 13 Mr Thomas found an envelope through his door containing £500 and a note indicating that they had killed themselves.

'I wondered if I was reading what I was,' he said. 

Mrs Titterton, 78, died of suffocation and her husband's death was consistent with the same cause. Both had died a short time apart. 

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