Clarice and Raymond Thiele’s lives of tragedy, love and joy end within 12 hours of each other

After finding love after tragedy, Clarice Thiele said she never wanted to know life without her husband Raymond. Surrounded by family in their dying moments, her wish came true.

Clarice and Raymond Thiele on their wedding day.

Last Saturday evening, over a Facetime call, Clarice Thiele told her husband of almost 40 years, Raymond Thiele, that she loved him.

Within 48 hours, surrounded by family, Raymond and Clarice had both taken their last breath.

A story of love born from tragedy, Clarice became friends with Raymond’s first wife, Jenny, through the church community after the death of her two-year-old daughter in 1965.

Raymond and Jenny had also lost a child, so the two friends became close as Jenny offered a comforting shoulder through Clarice’s loss.

Clarice’s heartbreak was worsened when nine years later, in 1974, her husband Gordon died after suffering a heart attack.

“Mum and Clarice were really good friends over the years; they loved arranging flowers and having fun – they had a really good sense of humour,” Raymond’s daughter, Sandra Thiele, said.

When Jenny was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she had one wish for her husband and closest friend.

“When our mum became so sick with cancer that she knew she was going to die, she said to our father, ‘you’re too good a husband to remain single; Clarice deserves a beautiful husband to look after her. You should marry Clarice’,” Sandra said.

Clarice and Ray Thiele were married for almost 40 years

After a period of grieving, Raymond began his courtship – and in 1982, they wed, bringing their families together.

“Clarice would look after us and make us welcome and provide a roast duck each week, which was fairly good compared to dad’s crockpot meals,” Raymond’s son, Andrew Thiele, said.

Sandra said Raymond and Clarice, who performed with her in the church choir, would often sing together, filling the home they built with harmonies.

“When they retired, they enjoyed catching up with friends, going dancing, travelling overseas and worshipping together at church,” Sandra said.

“It was lovely to see they had so much fun doing things they hadn’t for a long time.”

In their 80s, both Clarice and Raymond were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – but, despite their condition, never stopped looking after each other.

“Clarice would help Dad because he was losing function in his mobility, whereas Clarice was getting a bit more forgetful so Dad would do bits and pieces,” Andrew said.

The couple then moved into an aged care facility, Eldercare Allambi in Glengowrie, where carers combined their rooms to give them a bedroom and loungeroom area.

After finding each other in tragedy, Raymond and Clarice Thiele wed in 1982.

The couple devoted their lives to their friends, family and loved ones.

“The people there were just absolutely beautiful … it was so kind of them and allowed them to still feel like they were living more or less at home in a new home,” Andrew said.

“We owe our profound thanks for the care and creativity the staff at Allambi showed.”

While Raymond was bed-bound for the last year of his life, Andrew said Clarice still doted on him from her separate room.

“They would just embrace each other whenever they would see each other and Clarice would say, ‘I’m really sorry I can’t be looking after you now’,” Andrew said.

“He would just say how much he loved her, right until the end.”

After so much tragedy in both their lives, Clarice had one wish – for herself and Raymond to never go through the pain of losing one another.

In the end, her wish came true.

“She had always prayed that they would die together … and in the end it happened, 12 hours apart,” Sandra said.

During the couple’s final Facetime last Saturday, while being cared for in separate wards, Clarice ended their call with a prayer.

“Clarice looked down and could see Dad and she said, ‘keep sleeping until you’re 100 per cent better, love you so much’,” Sandra said.

“She finished with this: ‘Let my sins be all forgiven, bless the friends I love so well. Take me when I die to heaven, happy there with you to dwell’.

“After that, Dad, very feebly, said ‘love you’ and went to sleep.”

When Sandra told Raymond the next day that Clarice had become unresponsive, but was safe and calm, he squeezed her hand and said, “I love you”.

“I think he knew that Clarice had said goodbye,” Sandra said.

Clarice and Raymond Thiele looked after each other until the every end.

Raymond died on Monday morning and, 12 hours later, Clarice took her final breath.

“It was as she had prayed, that they would pass away in their sleep and not know the pain of suffering again and be in heaven together,” Sandra said.

“They loved each other just so much, it was lovely for us to know that.”

With eight children, 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild between them, Sandra said Raymond and Clarice were role models for a life filled with gratitude, fun and laughter, who devoted themselves to bringing joy and happiness to their loved ones.

“He and Clarice both made it their life’s mission to not only look after their family, friends and relatives, but they both did a lot of work in the community,” Sandra said.

“After all the tragedies that had befallen them, they were two of the most overwhelmingly positive people.

“They really wanted us to see love in each person, that each person is uniquely special and know they’re worthwhile, and to try and welcome them into your life.”