An elderly Tennessee couple, who had been married for 69 years, spent part of their last moments together holding each other’s hands.

According to US media reports, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) said Virginia and Tommy Stevens, both 91, powerfully displayed their love for one another as their days came to an end.

Tommy had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and was being cared for at a memory care unit at the assisted living facility where the couple lived before being transferred to VUMC. He started suffering from aspiration pneumonia and sepsis which caused laboured breathing and dangerously low blood pressure.

“You know, it helped me a lot,” Virginia had said. “It just gave me peace that I wouldn’t have to worry about him. He was going to be with me.”

The couple raised two children and welcomed grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Virginia is reported to have kept up her sense of humour with her visiting family.

“I watched Mrs Stevens tease her grandson, and her grandson and granddaughter in turn tease her back, feed her yogurt and drinks, and just rejoice in each other’s company,” said Mohana Karlekar, MD, medical director of VUMC’s adult Palliative Care Program.

“It did not take a whole lot of work on our part. It is a reminder to me about how each of us should remember that taking just a little time can be so impactful and that we should do this more often,” Karlekar added.

The couple was able to reminisce about their lives including vacations and holiday gatherings, according to reports.

Tommy died on September 8 while Virginia had been released from the hospital but died just over a week later on September 17.