By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 18:04 EST, 30 August 2013 | UPDATED: 18:53 EST, 30 August 2013 A husband and wife who eloped in 1942 and were married for more than seven decades died hours apart this week at a hospice in northern Illinois. Family members say Robert and Nora Viands were inseparable during their marriage, which included three separate wedding ceremonies. Together, they raised five children. 'They were really never apart,' said one of their daughters, Barb Milton. 'They would hold hands in the dining room.' Together forever: Robert and Nora Viands, of Rockford, Illinois on their wedding day and on their 50th wedding anniversary. After 71 years of marriage the couple died 16 hours apart on Wednesday
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Robert, 93, and Nora Viands, 88, died in their shared hospital room hours apart
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They had been married for 71 years
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The couple met on a blind date even though Nora wasn't interested in Robert at first!
The two lived together in their home until moving to a @placeholder retirement center earlier this year as their health deteriorated.