Mom of 3 Waits 12 Years to Marry, Finds Her ‘Fit and Well’ Dad Dead on Her Wedding Day

Twelve years after getting engaged, a woman was finally about to marry the love of her life. She was all set for her big day when an unexpected incident turned her world upside down.

Marrying one's long-term partner is an important decision filled with excitement. The thought of the big day gives hope for a better future, and the woman in today's story felt the same.

Joanna Chandler from Essex, England, agreed to spend the rest of her life with her partner, David, who she loved dearly. The mom of three hoped to marry him in 2019, but fate had other plans.

After getting engaged to David in 2010, Joanna looked forward to her wedding. She and her partner wanted to host a big celebration nine years later but had to cancel their plans. Joanna recalled:

"We had planned a big wedding in 2019 which we canceled when we discovered my mum was ill with blood cancer."

Once things got better, the couple decided to tie the knot in 2020, unaware that a global pandemic would ruin their plans. Again, they had to postpone their wedding and canceled their bookings.

Joanna and David waited for two years before making their next move. They decided to have a small wedding with a few guests this time, hoping to get married in May 2022.

Everything went as planned until Joanna's big day arrived. She was excited to walk down the aisle with her dad by her side, unaware that a tragedy would prevent her from doing that.

She Went to See Her Father on Her Big Day

Joanna's fiancé wasn't the first man named David to become one of the most important men in her life. Her father also had the same name, and Joanna loved him dearly. She recalled:

"Dad was just the best in every possible way. He was a builder and then a black cab driver."

Her father, David Larner, had always been there for his children. He gave the best advice and provided them with everything they needed.

Larner loved his grandchildren dearly and was excited to see his daughter start a new chapter in her life. He also had a great relationship with his soon-to-be son-in-law.

Joanna revealed the two men enjoyed spending time together, and her parents even joined them on their honeymoon trip after their engagement. David was like the missing puzzle piece who fit perfectly in Joanna's family.

As their big day neared, 75-year-old Larner built a pergola for his beloved daughter, in which she would marry the man she loved. At the time, Larner had no idea he would never see this happen.

On May 14, 2022, Joanna entered her father's room and found him lifeless.

A Heartbreaking Tragedy Changed Her Plans

Excited about her wedding, Joanna wanted to make sure everything was handled well. On May 13, she stayed up past midnight with her mother, ensuring everything was ready for the big day.

That night, her two daughters were with her at home while her son was with David at another place. Everything seemed fine until her mother went to her bedroom at 2:30 in the morning, alerting her that she couldn't wake her father.

Joanna immediately called for an ambulance. "But the second I walked through the door, I knew he'd died," she recounted. He had passed away in his sleep while sitting on the bed, holding the TV remote in his hand.

What surprised everyone the most about his death was that Larner was "fit and well" and had no symptoms of a life-threatening disease.

After learning about her beloved father's demise, Joanna told her children about it. She confessed it was "horrendous" because the kids were excited for the wedding and learning about their grandfather's death broke their hearts.

Losing her father meant Joanna couldn't proceed with her wedding, so she canceled it and informed their guests. However, later that day, David expressed his wish to still get married officially. Chandler agreed, and they decided to have a no-fuss ceremony and just sign the papers.

"We both knew we'd never get round to getting married otherwise – we'd been together about 15 years and engaged for 12," Joanna explained.

After officially becoming David's wife, Joanna, along with the rest of the family, gathered to remember Larner and honor him.

After losing her Dad to heart disease on the morning of her big day, Joanna joined hands with the British Heart Foundation to raise funds for finding an early detection test or a cure for heart disease. Moreover, she ran in the London Marathon on April 23 to raise funds for the cause.

Later this month, Joanna will be celebrating her first wedding anniversary, and the day would also mark a year to her father's death. She revealed she would honor her late father by listening to his favorite music in his favorite corner of the house, with his favorite drink, Bud, and champagne to celebrate her anniversary.

Rest in peace, David Larner! We hope Joanna also finds peace raising funds for the British Heart Foundation while spending her life with the man she loves.

Click here to read another story about a devoted Ohio dad who died 34 hours after fulfilling his last wish to walk his daughter down the aisle.