An elderly couple who were married for 67 years have died just 41 hours apart, with their family saying they could not live without each other. Geoff and Gerrie Gradus, who ran a well-known Kosher shop in Cliftonville, Margate, passed away in December. Geoff, aged 89, died at home surrounded by loved ones after suffering from frailty. Gerrie, 86, died suddenly less than two days later.
Love story that lasted a lifetime
The couple met when Gerrie was on holiday in Cliftonville at age 17, and she married Geoff three years later. Their marriage began with heartbreak, as they lost their first two babies, twins, at birth. They went on to have four more children and became known in Thanet's Jewish community for their shop G's Stores, which Geoff's parents had previously run. The grocer's, butcher's and delicatessen was loved for its doughnuts and cheesecake. However, with the rise of supermarkets in the 1980s, they had to sell the store. The couple then bought and ran Wychdene Residential Home in Broadstairs.
Devotion to each other and community
Their youngest daughter Ruth believes her mother could not cope with life without her beloved husband. 'Everyone says that they've never met a couple so in love,' she said. 'They were always holding hands. My dad was always giving mum a kiss. They were really sweet together.' Ruth added: 'The minute my dad went into a hospital bed in the spare room, which was four days before he died, I think her body just started giving up. I think she would never have survived without him.'
The couple faced more tragedy when their son Spencer died in a freak ride-on mower accident in 2016. Despite this, they remained active in the community. Geoff was chairman of Margate Swimming Club and later president of Margate Synagogue. They were dedicated members of Walpole Bay Bowls Club, where Geoff worked tirelessly to secure a Sport England grant for a clubhouse. Gerrie was heavily involved in the committee after retiring from playing.
Ruth said: 'They did everything together, literally to the end. They used to play a lot of bridge; they did bowls. They always were very much involved in the committees of all of these places.' She added: 'They will always be remembered as a couple who gave so much to their community – and who remained side by side until the very end.'
Warmth remembered by exchange students
The pair also took in young exchange students wanting to improve their English. Jutta Bick, who recalls being sent to Cliftonville for holidays as a child, shared memories of the couple. 'A whole bus full of teenagers from Germany arrived in Cliftonville one morning in the summer of 1977,' she said. 'Everyone was waiting for their family, and then a woman stepped onto the bus, a radiant smile on her face. It was Gerrie Gradus, and three wonderful weeks began.'
In their later years, the couple remained involved in local events. Even in his old age, Geoff was passionate about catering and would buy food in bulk to sell to friends and neighbours. Following their deaths, the couple were buried together in a joint service at Margate Jewish Cemetery.
