re: Elderly couples...when one dies

my grandpa spent nearly 20 years taking care of my grandmother while she slowly became sicker and sicker. when she died, he was so broken. I thought it would be just a matter of months before we'd lose him too. he ended up meeting a woman who made him happy again. they've been married for over 10 years now, and while she's not my most favorite person in the world and will never come close to the amazing person my grandmother was, she very likely saved his life and we got my awesome pawpaw back.

on the other hand, a very close couple of family friends both died within months of each other. he was so dead inside after his wife passed and couldn't go on anymore. it was so sad.