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
Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet Sir Edward O'Brien, 2nd Baronet (7 April 1705 – 26 November 1765) was an Irish politician and baronet. Born in England in 1705, he was the eldest surviving child of Lucius O'Brien (1675-1717) and Catherine Keightley (1676- c. 1733) and was the grand-son of Sir Donough O'Brien. He would be followed by a younger brother Thomas and two sisters Anne and Lucia, who both died as children. His maternal grandmother, Lady Frances Keightley (née Hyde) was the sister of Anne Hyde, duchess of York who in turn was the mother of Queen Mary II and