Edward Downes after his health declined following a hip replacement. Lady Downes was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer that metastasised to her liver, and given only weeks to live. Lady Downes wrote a letter to family explaining that she had decided against treatment and that: Sir Edward, aged 85, and Lady Downes, aged 74, ended their lives by assisted suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Zürich, Switzerland, on 10 July 2009. Although Joan did not want the children present, Dignitas encouraged it and "Ted and Joanie" were reported to be pleased when the time came. Their children issued a statement speaking of
Joan Mary Fry was placed permanently in a mental hospital, she helped her brother Roger with bringing up their children. Fry died in London on 25 November 1955. as listed in the catalogue of the Library of the Religious Society of Friends, London 'Papers in collections' Joan Mary Fry Joan Mary Fry (27 July 1862 – 25 November 1955) was an English Quaker campaigner for peace and social reform. Joan Fry was born on 27 July 1862 in London, into a wealthy family of Quakers. She was the daughter of a judge, Sir Edward Fry and his wife, Mariabella Hodgkin (1833 – 1930),