Spouse

Married women who keep silent during marital disputes have a greater chance of dying from heart disease and other conditions than women who speak their minds, new research shows. But the same can't be said of married men who keep disagreements to themselves. They had the same life expectancy during the 10-year study as men who spoke out. The research, which spanned from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, was the latest to show that how couples fight affects not only their relationship but their health.

Tammy Duckworth knows what it's like to be a soldier who kissed her spouse goodbye and went off to war in Iraq. She also knows what it's like to come home grievously wounded. Now Duckworth, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs director who lost her legs during her 2004 deployment, is experiencing yet another reality of military life. Her husband, Maj. Bryan Bowlsbey of the Illinois National Guard, arrived this month in the Middle East for his first tour of duty, directing convoys from Kuwait into Iraq several times a week.

Standing in line,waiting to check in for jury duty, I wondered which of the three people behind the counter I would rather handle this. The announcement had said they would confirm my address, employment and marital status. I got the middle-aged man. We went through the form on the computer screen. The address was correct. So was the employer. Marital status? "My wife has died," I said. The cursor moved. The M was changed to W. It moved again to the name of spouse. "Nancy" disappeared.

Five years after marrying into the Kizilos band of brothers (Peter, Paul and Mark), Rina Kizilos received the gift she'd long been waiting for: sister-in-law Nancy, who married Peter in 1995. "I liked her right away," said Rina, 38, who has been married to Paul for 16 years. "Here was a woman I could be close to." The two sisters-in-law were equally delighted when Melissa married Mark seven years ago. With seven children ages 10 and younger among them, the three women share parenting advice and recipes, take walks and throw birthday parties, and find time for girls' nights out. "I have said many times, they are like the sisters I never had," said Melissa, 38. "I trust and rely on them.

WASHINGTON -- A little-noticed provision in a pension law signed yesterday by President Bush will for the first time allow anyone to inherit a 401(k) nest egg without immediately paying taxes on the windfall, a benefit that had been reserved for spouses. Gay advocates and other observers described the measure as a significant shift in the way the government treats domestic partners who are not married, even though the provision was not written specifically for same-sex couples. "With this change, Congress is acknowledging that improvements can be made to our laws that address financial inequities and impediments that same-sex couples face," said James M. Delaplane Jr., an attorney and specialist on pension benefits.

The bound destiny of an elderly couple can result in sharing times of death, be it the same day, week, month or year. This seems evident reading the newspaper death notices and obituaries or walking through a graveyard. Just last week, Carlyn Gray died within 36 hours of her husband, William. The Towson couple had been married for nearly 60 years. It turns out there is also scientific evidence for the phenomenon. "People are interconnected, so their health is interconnected," said Nicholas Christakis, a professor at Harvard Medical School.

VINCENT AUGUSTUS FALLER passed away peacefully on July 12, 2006 at age 92, surrounded by his family. He is survived by Helen Gardiner, his beloved wife of 54 years; by son Douglas Faller, Ph D, MD and spouse Susan Perrine, MD of Boston, by daughters Constance Faller and spouse Chandler Heagey, Nancy Brown and spouse Randolph, Helen Maseda and spouse Manuel, and Katie Buck and spouse Shelton-all of Tampa, and by his dearly loved grandchildren: Natalie, Michael,...

It took Tialhei Zathang 6 1/2 years to escape persecution in his homeland of Myanmar, win asylum in the United States and obtain permission for his wife and children to join him. But less than four months after his family came out of hiding in India and moved into a Catonsville apartment with him, Zathang was arrested and charged with murder in the stabbing of his wife during what police said was an argument over his drinking. "If I had a chance, I would not drink again," the former math teacher quietly told a Baltimore County judge yesterday, wiping away tears as he prepared to be sentenced for Hlawntial Zathang's death.

GUY K. "KEN" COOK age 63 of Dunedin, Florida passed away suddenly on Saturday, May 13, 2006. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 4, 1943. Ken served in the United States Air Force and worked for Northwest Airlines from 1966 until his retirement in 1999. He was General Chairman and President of District 143 of the International Association of Machinists in Minnesota for 12 years. He had been a life long union member and supporter. He is survived by daughter Kristi Rivers, spouse Chris of Lakeville, MN; sons Todd Cook, spouse Gina of Eagan, MN and Jeff Cook, spouse Carmen of Richfield, MN. Also five grandchildren Mariah Triggs; Elise and Sam Cook and J.D. and Josie Cook all of MN. Also former wife Judi Zentzis of FL. Charitable donations to the Guide Dogs of America can be made at hhttp://www.

On May 3, 2006, B. EILEEN TOCHTERMAN; beloved wife of William H.; dear mother of Judith (spouse: Dr. Robert Giangrandi); loving grandmother of Regina Franz (spouse: Jack); Robert Giangrandi (spouse: Debbie); David Giangrandi (spouse: Christa); Steven Giangrandi (spouse: Lorraine); cherished great-grandmother of nine. A Memorial Service will be held at Heartlands Chapel in Ellicott City on Monday, at 6:15 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to: American Cancer Society.