Husband and wife of 48 years are laid to rest at double funeral after Covid killed them just weeks before they were eligible for vaccine

• Peter Hurrell, 72, and Audrey, 67, from Nottinghamshire, died just 10 days apart
• Great-grandparents had both tested positive for coronavirus in January this year
• Peter received letter urging him to get jab two days after he was taken hospital
• Couple buried together yesterday in cemetery near their daughter Sarah’s home
• Sarah paid tribute to pair, describing them as ‘best parents anyone could ask for’

A husband and wife of 48 years have been laid to rest at a double funeral after they died of Covid-19 just weeks before they were eligible for the vaccine. 

Great-grandparents Peter Hurrell, 72, and Audrey, 67, from Trowell, Nottinghamshire, passed away 10 days apart after testing positive for the virus in January. 

Audrey, a former pharmacy worker, tested positive on January 19 and was found dead by her daughter Sarah Cox, 47, at her home on January 22. 

Peter, a former bus driver and warehouse operative, tested positive on January 8 after developing a cough and was rushed to hospital on January 18.

He passed away at the Royal Derby Hospital, with Sarah by his side, on February 1. 

Yesterday, the couple were buried together at a joint-ceremony. 

Great-grandparents Peter Hurrell, 72, and Audrey (both pictured above), 67, from Trowell, Nottinghamshire, passed away 10 days apart after testing positive for Covid-19 in January

Yesterday, the couple were buried together at a double funeral in a cemetery just five minutes from their daughter Sarah’s house which she intends to visit regularly

Mourners gather to pay tribute to the couple. Peter’s letter urging him to make an appointment for his first Covid vaccine arrived two days after he was taken into hospital

Peter suffered from multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, and amyloidosis, a group of rare conditions caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein in his organs. 

His letter urging him to make an appointment for his first coronavirus vaccine arrived two days after he was taken into hospital. 

But Sarah said Audrey was ‘as fit as a fiddle’, with no underlying health conditions, which made her untimely death even more unexpected.

She said: ‘Mum’s death was such a shock to us as she was as fit as a fiddle. Dad was diagnosed with cancer five years ago and he wasn’t very well.

‘Mum was told by the doctors when dad went into hospital on January 19 that he wouldn’t be coming home.

‘She passed away on the Friday. I’d been to see her on the Thursday night and asked her if she wanted anything, but she just wanted some water and asked me to put her to bed.

‘When I went round the next morning, she was still in the same position I’d left her in. The ambulance arrived within three minutes and the paramedics were great but there was nothing they could do.

‘I think she died of a broken heart. I think after testing positive for Covid and having been told that she’d never see her husband, her best friend, again, she couldn’t carry on. 

A coffin is moved from the back of a hearse ahead of the double funeral. Peter suffered from multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, and amyloidosis, a group of rare conditions caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein in his organs 

A coffin is carried past mourners during the double funeral yesterday. Sarah paid tribute to the pair, describing them as the ‘perfect double act’ and ‘best parents anyone could ask for’

Two doves are released during the joint ceremony at the cemetery. Sarah said the turnout at the double funeral would have been much greater if it were not for the pandemic

‘It was such a shock, I fully expected to be helping her plan my dad’s funeral, but I never expected to be burying my mum too.’

Sarah then faced the ‘hardest conversation’ of her life when she had to tell her father that his wife had died.

She said: ‘I told him, “if you want to go and be with her, you have mine and my sisters’ blessing because I know you can’t bear to be without her”.’

Peter stayed alive for ten more days and had his birthday in hospital before Sarah was invited to sit by his bedside.

Sarah added: ‘It was his birthday on January 27, we rang him and the doctors sang happy birthday to him.

‘He was moved to the cancer ward and I sat with him for three days, talking to him, singing to him, doing the things you have to do.

‘At around 12.20am he took his last breath and I was there by his side.’

Two mourners are pictured during the ceremony. Peter and Audrey, who had three children, lived on the same street as youngsters and became a couple 50 years ago

A coffin is seen being lowered into the ground during the double funeral yesterday. Peter had his birthday in hospital before Sarah was invited to sit by his bedside

Mourners pictured during the funeral yesterday. Due to Covid restrictions, only 30 mourners were allowed to pay their respects at the joint ceremony

Peter and Audrey, who had three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, lived on the same street as youngsters and became a couple 50 years ago.

Sarah paid tribute to the pair, describing them as the ‘perfect double act’ and ‘best parents anyone could ask for’. 

Due to Covid restrictions, only 30 mourners were allowed to pay their respects at the double funeral, but Sarah said the turnout would have been much greater if it were not for the pandemic.

She added: ‘Mum was the stricter one, she’d tell us off if we’d been naughty.

‘Dad was much more placid and laid back, I was never told off by my dad. They were so loving and in love, they were just perfect parents.

‘We don’t actually know how they met, but they were at the same school and lived on the same street, but dad was four years older. They got together when my mum was 17.

‘My dad always made his wishes known to me, he wanted to be buried under a tree in a cemetery just five minutes from me so I could visit him.

‘So I granted his wishes so I know he would be happy and they are together which is the main thing.

‘I can imagine them having a laugh together – my dad would wind her up that he lasted longer than she did and my mum would be furious that he kept her waiting.’

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