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 Osborne, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Osborne, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Osborne, 1st Baronet, of Kiveton (bap. 12 December 1596 – 9 September 1647) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1640. Osborne was the son of Sir Hewett Osborne (bap. 13 March 1567 – 1599, brother of Alice Osborne, wife of Sir John Peyton, 1st Baronet) and Joyce Fleetwood. He was made a baronet on 13 July 1620. In 1628 Osborne was elected Member of Parliament for East Retford. He was elected MP for York in the Short Parliament of 1640 and MP