'It was hard to tell where one ended and the other started': Incredible story of a mother, father and daughter who were 'connected at the soul' and naturally died within days of each other

  • Sandy Schulte, 57, was the eldest of five children and born with Down Syndrome
  • She had spent her life living with parents Sharon, 76, and Thomas, 77, to whom she was remarkably close
  • Sandy died on March 7 and Sharon 'let go' the following day
  • Thomas died on March 11
  • The three shared a funeral in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Friday
  • Sharon was holding the urn of Sandy's ashes when she was buried next to her husband

By Joel Christie

PUBLISHED: 10:56 EST, 16 March 2014 | UPDATED: 23:26 EST, 16 March 2014


Sharon, Thomas and Sandra Schulte had a connectedness that was mighty for even the strongest of family ties - and one that even linked them in death.

A family of five children, Sandra, 57, who went by the name Sandy, was the eldest.

Born with Down Syndrome, she functioned at the capacity of a four-year-old.

Sandy spent her life living with her parents in the country southeast of St. Cloud, Minnesota, sharing an especially tight bond with her mother Sharon, a writer.

'They were connected at the soul in a way that was quite incredible,' sister Kim Butkowski, told The Mail Online on Sunday.

Inseparable bond: (L-R) Thomas, Sandy Schulte died within four days of each other last week. The three incredibly close family members shared a funeral in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Friday

Inseparable bond: (L-R) Thomas, Sandy Schulte died within four days of each other last week. The three incredibly close family members shared a funeral in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Friday

'With all three, you really couldn't tell where one ended and the other one started.'

Over the last few years, Sandy, who had participated and won medals in the Special Olympics, began to decline.

'Her health was failing and she was very weak,' Kim said.

'Walking was hard and she couldn't feed herself. She seemed to age quickly.'

Then 18 months ago, Sharon was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Her illness got progressively worse and mastacised to brain cancer.

In November of last year, father Thomas began falling over and was experiencing memory loss.

After a visit to the doctors, he too was diagnosed with lung cancer.

All-but incapacitated, the three moved to the Talahi Care Center, a long-term nursing facility.

'Mom's wish was always that she wanted to outlive Sandy,' Kim said.

'Mom and dad wanted to walk Sandy to Heaven's gate - and that's what happened.'

'One soul': Sandy and Sharon Schulte seen here two years ago on Sandy's 55th anniversary. Her health started to decline around this time

'One soul': Sandy and Sharon Schulte seen here two years ago on Sandy's 55th anniversary. Her health started to decline around this time

Sandy passed away on Friday March 7, aged 57.

The following day, Sharon, who had been transferred to Quiet Oaks Hospice House, also died.

She was 76.

'It was like Mom had got her wish and she could just let go,' Kim said.

'That's what we think happened.'

 

More...

Three days later, on Tuesday March 11, Thomas Schulte, a truck driver, died.

He was 77.

The three shared a special funeral on Friday at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud.

Sandy was cremated and Sharon and Thomas were buried at the Hilltop Mausoleum in Sauk Rapids.

Sharon was put into the ground clutching the urn of her beloved daughter's ashes, as decided upon by Kim and her three brothers Thomas, 54, Troy, 51, and Tedd, 42.

Strongest of ties: Sharon Schulte (left) was buried next to her husband Thomas holding the urn of daughter Sandy's ashes

Strongest of ties: Sharon Schulte (left) was buried next to her husband Thomas holding the urn of daughter Sandy's ashes

'It's what we believed everyone would have wanted, especially Mom,' Kim said.

Because of the amount of people that turned out for the service, estimated at about 200, the funeral was standing only.

Sandy was remembered as a 'child who never had to grow up' who loved the color red.

Sharon was a creative type who authored several books and also wrote jokes for Phyllis Dyller.

She loved going to garage sales.

Thomas 'could fix anything' and loved cars, at one time being a race car driver.

He was a hard-worker who 'failed retirement' three times.

Comments (145)

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Wow, what an amazing story. Amazing parents.

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What a wonderful story of love and devotion - had to re-read some parts because of tears. May they all rest in peace. Blessings to the remaining children/siblings ...... you all sound like wonderful people.

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Love is all. R.I.P. together.

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Downs children and adults are so affectionate and good natured. I am so glad Sandy's parents got their wish. RIP to three special people.

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I wonder if an environmental hazard was the reason both Mum and Dad ended up with lung cancer. If they were non smokers than the chances of both contracting it should be extremely unlikely ... so there may be a hazard, such as asbestos, that they were both exposed to. The surviving children should get a scan.

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Oh look, there's the point way, way, waaaaay over there. Dear me.

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In this day and age of materialism and selfishness, it is so refreshing to read a story about true unconditional love and family values.

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Well said Ellen

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"Her illness got progressively worse and mastacised to brain cancer." ===== Apologies to readers for being picky about something in this touching story, but there's no such word as mastacised. It's metastasised.

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All together for ever, rest in peace. XxXx

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How wonderful that the parents got their wish to be with their much loved daughter until the very end, and how lucky was she to have such wonderful and devoted parents. May they rest in peace in eternity together.

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Her parents were lucky as well to have such a wonderful daughter. Rest in peace lovely family.

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Unconditional love. May they all rest in peace with each other.

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Sorry, I touched my screen and red arrowed you unintentionally. I agree completely with your lovely comment.

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