Alzheimer's devastating grip on Felix Dascenzo, 85, had been tightening in recent months, warping his natural kindness more and more often into behavior his wife, Millie, found especially painful.

But earlier this month, when she visited him at the nursing home, he was having a good day. He asked his wife how long they'd been married.

How long did he think? she asked.

Twenty-six years, he said.

No, Fe, she said. It's been 61.

"He said, 'Thanks, Mill,' " said their daughter, Patricia Bradley, of Irwin. "It was a very heartfelt thanks. And it meant so much to her that he thanked her for all those years."

That close moment became even more bittersweet on Thursday when Mr. Dascenzo died of natural causes just after dinner, and his wife of more than six decades died a few hours later, sometime between midnight and 7 a.m., according to their daughter. Mrs. Dascenzo, who was living with their daughter in Hempfield Township, was 81.

After all the stress and exhaustion of caring for her father, it was as if her mother felt she could finally stop struggling, said Mrs. Bradley.

"They really just think her heart gave out," she said.

Raising their children -- Mrs. Bradley and her two brothers -- in Wilkins, and later with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the Dascenzos always put family first, according to Mrs. Bradley.

Mr. Dascenzo, a World War II veteran, painted houses for a living for most of his life, although he also worked at Westinghouse Electric before he retired. He could always be counted on to help fix, remodel or rebuild anything his family needed, his daughter said.

"Any time anything was needed in my home, Dad was the first person I would call -- he could do it all," she said. "He had great ideas for how to fix things up."

Mrs. Dascenzo, who worked as a receptionist and office manager for various doctor's offices and real estate agencies until she was in her 70s, was always willing to help with her grandchildren.

"She was always the person I would call if I needed some guidance," Mrs. Bradley said.

After their retirement, the couple loved traveling together to New England and Nashville and casinos and dinner theaters with other friends in their senior groups. And after Mr. Dascenzo went to live at Greensburg's Rehabilitation and Nursing Center of Greater Pittsburgh and Mrs. Dascenzo went to live with her daughter, his wife stayed active.

She played cards every Tuesday with her seniors group, read the newspaper every day, and visited and cared for her husband in his nursing home, enduring his disease with him as he grew ever more frail.

"It's so bittersweet to lose them both at once," said Mrs. Bradley. "But I am just so glad they were my parents."

Felix and Amelia "Millie" Picciafoco Dascenzo are survived by sons Frank of Durham, N.C., and David of Harrison City; and daughter Patricia Bradley of Irwin. Mrs. Dascenzo is survived by a sister, Phyllis Pugliese of Scott. The couple also is survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A blessing will be held at Wolfe Memorial, Forest Hills Chapel, 3604 Greensburg Pike, at noon today.