Lonely People

@sassy28 (834)
United States
April 17, 2009 10:52am CST
This is so sad, it was in our newspaper a couple of weeks ago. An older lady who lived by herself, her husband died about 10 years or so ago. They did not have any children. Was found dead in her house. Ok, nothing to unusual about that. Well from the doctors reports and the state that the body had been in, was that she has been dead for about 18 months. Her phone and electricity had been turned off. She had a post office box, when her rental fee was not paid, they returned her mail. Her sister in law tried to call, but when she got the recording that her phone was turned off, she figured she got a cell phone. The county actually sold her house for past due property taxes, she owed less than $500.00. The neighbors never noticed a thing, her dog was dead in the back yard, from lack of food and water. I live in South Carolina and it gets in the 100's during the summer, there had to be a smell. They found the body when the real estate agency that bought the house, site unseen, went in to inspect what they bought. Can you imagine, living your whole life, and when you die, no one cares or notices. It is just so sad, that not one person missed her. What was her life like, she must have been such a lonely lady.
4 people like this
11 responses
@dixie1 (1330)
• United States
17 Apr 09
Hi, That is so sad it put tears in my eyes. I think there are a lot more lonely people in this world than most people realize. Lonliness is high among the elderly and also, homebound persons due to disabilities. Others can help via volunteer services such as visitin nurses and be a "friendly visitor". Blessings
@ulqu1orra (307)
• Philippines
18 Apr 09
That was really a sad story. Its almost 1 and a half year that no one's caring even after your life. I'm a bit pity of that lady. Shes been lonely before and after his life.
1 person likes this
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
Yes it is sad that her only friend was her dog. I can not imagine not having any frieds or family that cares for you.
1 person likes this
@bulaimi (15)
• China
18 Apr 09
I am very sad to hear this.I really hope this won't occur again.But there are still many lonely people live around ourselves.In order to avoid this thing hanpped again ,i think our government must attach importance to this question. Taking care of old lonely people is government responsibility.Government can build a house called "old people home",let old and lonely people live in it.And government employ young nurses to take care of them.So those old and lonely people can live together,they can chat with each other ,listen songs ,play card games and so on. i think they will have a happy life in their rest time.
1 person likes this
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
We have retirement homes but the cost is so much that most people can not afford it. Or you have the state ran nursing homes where the people their only care about a paycheck not the people they are suppose to be caring for. We are taking care of my husbands father, I just hope my boys learn from us, so when we get old and need it they will take care of us.
@kissieme (777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 09
Gosh! That was terrible...It's not uncommon but still this story made me feel sad. Dying alone without anyone noticing is really sad. Why didn't anyone ever paid her a visit when she is so old? It's weird... For me, I don't feel comfortable if my family or friends don't reply to my call or messages... I'd go pay them a visit or really persist in calling or calling the phone of our neighbors just to check on them. There are cases I have heard from my mom's volunteering activities. She has been going to places where younger people don't venture anymore because they're far from the commercial areas. She told me that there are so many old people who are already bedridden and so old that they can't fend for themselves anymore. Most of them are abandoned by their own children because of old age and some grudges against their parents. My mom told us that she is lucky that we are taking care of her hee hee...
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
I just do not understand why noone was there to visit or anything. My mom is 63 and still works full time and can take care of herself. But if I do not hear from her for a few days I start to get concerned that something has happened to her. I guess since this lady did not have children there was no other special bonding that she had.
@kissieme (777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 09
that's true though... hmmm... you mentioned that the old lady has a sister... I have a sister too but even though my sister can take care of herself, I still worry when she doesn't answer her phone or doesn't send any messages back at me and vice versa to her... So, I felt very sad for the old woman, her sister didn't even check up on her...
@kissieme (777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 09
oh, ps... Oh it was a sister in law...
@smartjack (520)
• India
18 Apr 09
this sounds very disgusting and very sad, how could she be left alone by her relatives all alone where she couldn't do all her works? it sounds very sad.
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
She did not have any children, and a sister in law that did not care. The only friend she must have had was her dog, that is so sad. Going through your daily life knowing noone cares if you are alive or not.
@blaqjakk (28)
• Singapore
18 Apr 09
That is really tragic. How could anyone not know? It is so surprising that in our ever growing population, one can become 'invisible' to so many others. But sometimes, some people just want to be left alone. They don't like company. This kind of behaviour could be attributed to a loss of a loved one, and the person is afraid if she/he gets close to someone again, they might loose that person too. But no one should be alone. I am still puzzled, did her neighbours not noticed or even care? This is what the world has become nowadays...we only tend to think about ourselves.
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
Fully agree, it is a me only world. I still am amazed at the tax office selling her house without anyone even going out there to check on the situation.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 09
God Bless this Lady, I hope she rests and enjoys every moment in her afterlife for she was such a lonely lady and she still managed to hang in there all those years. What a magnificently independent lady. God Bless.
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
The good outcome of this story is that she was reunited with her husband. And hopefully she can find peace and happiness again with him.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
27 Jun 09
That is so sad. It seems strange that her sister tried to call and couldn't reach her and didn't bother to check on her in 18 months. Alot of times when ppl get older their left alone and forgotten. I hope her, her husband and their little dog are together now. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@twinklee (894)
• India
18 Apr 09
it is a pity that these things do happen......there was incident similar to what you have mentioned...a twin murder....which rocked my street .....mom & son was killed in ti......the entire scenario had been brought up into limelight only after a week it happened by neighbors who could tolerate the stink.....
@gxyywhyzy (450)
• China
18 Apr 09
I'm sad to read it.such lonely lady.I never dare to imagine.I'm fortunate to have some best friends or friendly neighbers.also I should be kind to these lonely person and give them a hand.
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
That is what I hope that people will read this, and make some small changes. You do not have to become best friends with these people, just let them know you are there it they need you. Just check on them every now and then and make sure they are ok.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
17 Apr 09
How very sad! How could the sister-in-law just take it for granted instead of trying to go and see her or calling the police to check on her. Eighteen months with know one trying to contact her, what a sad story and the poor dog. I wonder how many times this happens when there are no more livin relatives. It's really scary!
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
18 Apr 09
I don't understand why the sister in law did not find out what happened. Just to assume she got a cell phone and did not want to call her. It is scary, that people just do not care anymore or want to get involved.