Husband's death in trade center too much to take

A New Orleans native devastated by the loss of her husband in the World Trade Center tragedy ended her own life Monday in the home where she had lived alone since Sept. 11.

Patricia Vallette Flounders died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, Monroe County Coroner Dave Thomas said. Friends and family members said the 51-year-old widow was despondent after losing her husband, Joe, who was last seen in his brokerage office in the World Trade Center's south tower.

Here's another poor soul who simply could not hold on to life. This came over the AP Wire this morning. May they rest in peace.

CHELMSFORD, Mass. (AP) _ An Internal Revenue Service employee who was hit by debris from the World Trade Center during the Sept. 11 attacks has died of his injuries.

Dave Bernard, 57, died Tuesday at Massachusetts General Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Sue McGreevey said. A technical adviser with the IRS, Bernard was in New York for a business meeting in Building 7 of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

He was caught in the falling debris from the trade center's north tower moments after it was struck by American Airlines Flight 11.

Bernard suffered two broken vertebrae and serious spinal cord injuries, leaving him without feeling below the waist. He also suffered punctured lungs, nine broken ribs and a fractured shoulder blade.

He is survived by a wife and three children. ``We all had a chance to say goodbye,'' said son Mark, 30.``That's something that 3,000 other families didn't have.''

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