PEOSTA, Iowa â Sue White held her husbandâs hand as he took his last breaths.
She prepared herself for the third service she would attend within eight weeks to mark the death of a family member.
First, her brother. Then, her mother-in-law.
Now, her high school sweetheart with whom she embarked on a 49-year marriage.
âIâm ready for this year to be over,â Sue said, âand hopefully, next year will be better.â
Rick White, 69, of Peosta, died in October after contracting the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19.
Sue, a retired secretary and receptionist, included the cause of death in Rickâs obituary. She wanted to illustrate the diseaseâs pernicious effects.