Joe Lewinger, 42, died last weekend from complications with coronavirus.
Like other families across the US right now, Lewinger had to say goodbye to her husband virtually, over FaceTime in their case. She said that because of
the stay-at-home orders, social distancing and overall isolation that this virus has brought on, the reality of her husband's death sometimes misses her.
"Right now, not seeing anybody, it sometimes just feels like he's at work," she said.
Joe worked at a Catholic High School on Long Island, New York, for 20 years. He was an assistant principal and coach of the basketball team.
Joe had no pre-existing conditions and he started out with "mild symptoms," that included a low-grade fever. It was around St. Patrick's Day in March that his fever spiked and he started to have issues breathing.
In the days before Joe's death, Lewinger said the two "pretty much spent 24/7 on FaceTime, trying to mediate and calm him, trying not to let him feel alone."
When doctors told Lewinger her husband's breathing was getting worse and that he was on three different blood pressure medications, she requested to speak with Joe on Facetime.
"I saw him and I begged him not to leave us and told him we all need him," Lewinger said.
Doctors told her they'd try other methods to keep Joe alive. During that waiting period, Lewinger said she listened to her wedding song on loop just staring into the backyard. Then the doctor called back.
The doctor then told her Joe's pulse was gone.
"I played our wedding song for him. And then that was it," Lewinger said.
Joe leaves behind his wife, three children, a son and two daughters.
New York woman played her husband their wedding song on FaceTime as he passed away from coronavirus - CNN