Carol and Joanne Van Zandt of Mount Vernon, Texas, were married in 1953 and spent more than seven decades building a life side by side. According to their family, Carol passed away from natural causes earlier this week, and Joanne followed less than 12 hours later.
Their children say the loss is painful, but there is comfort in knowing neither had to face life without the other.
“The beauty of their story overshadows any sadness,” their daughter Toni Van Zandt told KLTV.
Family members said Joanne had been unresponsive, but on the morning Carol passed, she appeared to sense his absence. Toni said there were tears, the first emotion Joanne had shown since being in the hospital bed.
Over the years, Carol and Joanne became known as Papa Carol and Momma Jo. They raised three children and leave behind five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Loved ones described Joanne as feisty and Carol as calm, steady, and heroic. Their grandson Leonard Heath Ray said there was “no safer place than being snuggled up with Momma Jo,” while family members remembered Carol as “Superman” and “our hero.”
Neighbors said the couple did nearly everything together and remained affectionate after almost three-quarters of a century of marriage.
In an age where long-lasting relationships often feel rare, their family says Carol and Joanne’s bond was rooted in partnership, daily devotion, and simply choosing each other again and again.
What do you think is the biggest secret to a love that lasts a lifetime?