Some love stories are so powerful, even death refuses to break them apart.
Frances Chandler, 101, and her husband Bernard, 97, spent 75 years side by side, building a life filled with love, laughter, and dancing. When Frances passed away on November 6, Bernard wasn’t far behind—he followed her just three weeks later on November 29, 2023. Now, they will be laid to rest together in a joint funeral, ensuring their bond remains unbroken even in eternity.
Their family, including five children, 10 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, will gather on December 19 to honor their incredible journey. Their daughter, Pat McDougall, shared how fitting it is that they will have one final farewell together.
“It’s quite unique,” she told the Bristol Post. “The funeral director said they only see a double funeral maybe once a year. It’s nice now that they’re together.”
The love between Frances and Bernard was undeniable. So much so that when Bernard passed, the family changed all their plans—because they knew they couldn’t let them say goodbye separately.
“They’re dancing together again,” Pat said, smiling through tears. “Ironically, they used to love watching Strictly Come Dancing, and the final was this weekend—maybe they were looking down on it.”
A Farewell Fit for a Love That Lasted a Lifetime
The couple will be buried in Bristol, UK, but Bernard’s London roots won’t be forgotten. The funeral will feature Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner and The Lambeth Walk in his honor.
Frances, always the cheerful one, will have Smile playing as she enters—because she never wanted anyone to cry. But, as Pat admitted, “I’m sure we will.”
Then, in a moment that will tug at every heartstring, their farewell will end with The Last Waltz, a nod to their lifelong passion for dance. Pat and her siblings will stand together and dance to the song, one last time, in their honor.
As a final tribute, their dance shoes will rest atop their caskets, alongside a single red rose each—because for Frances and Bernard, dancing was never just a hobby. It was the rhythm of their love story.
“They were both dance teachers,” Pat explained. “They taught different styles and continued right up until my mum was 90. That was the love of their life—dancing. It’s even how they met.”
A Love That Stood the Test of Time
Their story began at a dance in St. Gerard’s, Knowle. In 1948, Frances, then 26, and Bernard, 21, tied the knot, promising a lifetime together—and they made good on that promise.
Even as the years passed, Frances remained devoted, still cooking and cleaning for Bernard at 100 years old. Their love was recognized not just by family but by royalty—Frances received one of the last 100th birthday cards sent by Queen Elizabeth II, and the couple was among the first to get a card from King Charles III for their 75th anniversary.
Now, their family holds onto that card as a keepsake of their remarkable journey.
Frances and Bernard may have left this world, but their love story lives on—proving that some bonds truly are forever.
Would you share a dance with someone you love in their honor? Tag a friend who believes in true love!
