Posted on 01/05/2005 2:34:33 PM PST by rocksblues
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A local columnist and her businessman husband committed suicide on New Year's Day after sending out their obituary, letters to friends and a newspaper column supporting "death with dignity," authorities said.
The obituary stated that Ethan and Helen Levine, both suffering from serious illness, died together "through united self-deliverance," according to the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle of Cheyenne and the Casper Star-Tribune, which received copies. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050105/D87E4IQO1.html Wyo. Couple Write Notes, Commit Suicide The bodies were found Tuesday by Laramie County sheriff's deputies, who went to check on the couple after the obituary and letters were delivered. Laramie County Coroner Bill Ryan said Wednesday that the Levines appear to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Helen Levine, 73, had been a columnist for both newspapers and was formerly public information officer for the state health department. Her husband, Ethan Levine, 50, had been manager of Frontier Mall and served on the Tribune-Eagle editorial board.
The final column Helen Levine wrote for the Casper Star-Tribune reminded readers of her support for "death with dignity," the newspaper said. She also wrote that the couple had "experienced insults" related to their jobs, and she criticized President Bush for the war in Iraq and other things.
The newspaper quoted from the submission in a news story but does not plan to publish the column, which it said came in the mail Tuesday.
In their letter to friends, the Levines described their health problems - Ethan Levine had multiple sclerosis and diabetes and his wife had heart disease. Their letter called MS "a great age equalizer" that brought chronic fatigue and pain.
"We know what we feel and why we have made this choice," the letter said. "We also know that our decision may not be met with the same understanding by you. All we can ask is for you to respect our choice and understand this was something we both felt so strong about."
Jim Angell, director of the Wyoming Press Association, said the two "were both very, very smart debaters. If you ever got on the opposite side of a political issue, they'd talk until they wore you down."
Gov. Dale Freudenthal had appointed Helen Levine to the Wyoming Senior Services Board. In a statement, Freudenthal said, "I have known Ethan and Helen both for years and years and considered them friends for a long time."
In a letter to selected friends, Ethan Levine explained multiple reasons for the couple's decision. He mentioned the 1978 suicide of his brother, Steve, who had left no note but a lot of unanswered questions.>>>
Something Ive long noticed is suicides tending to run in families.
Is there some study on a genetic basis for this ?
Sounds as if they needed somebody to blame. This is not death with dignity.
Umm . . . Or until they committed suicide, whichever came first.
Put it this way, they wouldn't have worn many Freepers down!
Chainsaws, again?
There is nothing in the Bible which says God hates divorce.
Talk about extrapolation from meager sources.
Good question. I have a 2nd cousin suffering from advanced metastatic cancer and it is so hard to watch her go through that. Many don't want to be around sick people hence avoid her. Despite my discomfort at witnessing this, I love her and her feelings are more important than mine. So I experience it with her and know it will get worse, much worse. I would not blame her if she took her own life, but I would pray for her soul and ask the Lord to bless her in heaven.
Bless them how? Yes they already took their own lives, but praying for their souls and asking God to bless them and forgive them is the way.
"They are beyond being "blessed". They've decided to be eternally damned."
I don't believe that. Jesus asked God to forgive his murderers, and Stephen asked God to not charge his murderers with the crime. If murderers can be forgiven, so can those who kill themselves.
Which doctrine is that exactly ?
"They committed self murder and all murderers go to hell. They are just starting their God given term of eternity in hell. God forgives the repentent..."
How do we know this couple didn't pray and ask God's forgiveness before they died?
Thinning the gene pool...
Two less...
The question is, which hurts more: living through each day of increasing pain and deterioration or watching the person you love go through the same thing?
I think it would be much harder to watch someone you love go through it. But, if Nancy Reagan can do it....so can I.
Malachi 2: 16 "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty.So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.
NIV
Even if they repented a minute before their deaths, they are forgiven.
How very Christian of you. Two people suffering with pain, who want to die together instead of alone, counting on the paid time of strangers. Yea, that's just horrible.
Maybe we should hope they do and then we can have what they left for Social Security.
At least it wasn't euthanasia. Certain suicides don't bother me too much --- if death is around the corner and the doctor gave you a bottle of pain pills, warning you that taking more than 2 could kill you -- make you sleep and never wake up, and you took 6 --- we never know if you were confused, in extreme pain, or meant to go at that time.
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