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Debbie Dingell describes husband's last days in heartfelt Facebook post

Posted at 10:01 AM, Feb 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-09 13:25:44-05

(WXYZ) — U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell shared a heartfelt post Saturday morning describing her husband, Rep. John Dingell's, last days.

The longest-serving congressman in U.S. history passed away Thursday night. He was 92.

John represented Michigan for 59 years. Debbie continued the family's political legacy by representing Michigan's 12th Congressional District when her late husband retired in 2015 at age 87.

"Sleep is hard...I want to share his last few days," she wrote.

"He was lucid, visiting with friends, in charge until the end. And trust me he knew exactly what he wanted, when he wanted it and we did it his way. The chief medical director of hospice met with us last week, and John was simply not ready to say it was time. He had things we wanted to do and a woman he wanted to love. On Monday, he really started having problems walking and we knew we needed help."

Dingell revealed her husband spoke with former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton in his final 24 hours.

"He was very John Dingell in what he had to say, made them both laugh and gave them very clear serious instructions."

The Congresswoman also gave a special thank you to Dearborn servicemen and women who offered their support through her family's difficult time. John was a Dearborn native.

"I want to thank Dearborn firefighters and chief Joe Murray and Dearborn police and chief Ron Haddad. I didn’t know what to do, and they were all there, trying to help me and him and handle what happened. All of the guys are kind, good, loving men who helped John and me through a very very very difficult time. And they didn’t leave me. They loved John and he loved him. The Dearborn men and women in blue were part of our family."

Read Debbie Dingell's full message below:

Watch full obit below: Former US Congressman John Dingell dies at 92