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 Holland, Duchess of Brittany IV took place in London in May 1366. The couple had no children. Joan Holland, Duchess of Brittany Lady Joan Holland, (1350–1384), was Duchess consort of Brittany as the second wife to John IV, Duke of Brittany. She was the daughter of Joan of Kent and Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent. Her mother married secondly to Edward the Black, Prince of Wales and was mother to Richard II. Lady Joan was the second Duchess Consort to John IV. She had been preceded by her cousin, Mary of Waltham (sister of Edward, Prince of Wales), and would be succeeded by