Heartbroken widow chose to end her life

Thursday 23 April 2020

A widow decided to end her own life during the first night of the corona virus lockdown, which was nearly eight years after her husband died, saying she couldn’t live any longer without him.

83-year-old Maureen Carre was found at home by her son on Thursday 26 March, having already passed away earlier that day.

She had left a handwritten note, timed and dated 01:00 26 March, on her kitchen table, indicating she planned to take her own life.

Mrs Carre had been known to the island’s mental health services. She had received treatment on a few occasions during her younger years, in the immediate aftermath of her husband Len’s death in April 2012, and more recently.

The couple had three sons and one had visited her the day before she died. It had been agreed between her children that contact would be maintained with their mother during the lockdown, which started on 25 March, with one of her sons visiting her but maintaining social distancing.

Mrs Carre and her son discussed the pandemic during their final conversation, and although she was very concerned about it, her son said “it wasn’t the worst state he had seen her in”. 

Mr Carre called her the following day and when she didn’t answer the telephone he went round to her home in St Sampson. He went inside and found her unresponsive. He called the emergency services for help but she had already passed away.

Mrs Carre’s note gave an indication of how much she loved her husband and her three sons. “I’ve loved you all,” she wrote.

Judge Graeme McKerrell offered his condolences to Mrs Carre’s family and gave permission for her funeral to be held. 

Pictured top: Inquests are heard within Guernsey's court.