Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal who made headlines when she penned a powerful column for the NY Times titled, ‘You May Want to Marry My Husband’,has died, aged 51.
Rosenthal, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, passed away this week at her home in Chicago, Illinois.
Her longtime literary agent, Amy Rennert, confirmed the sad news who said Rosenthal “was the most life-affirming person, and love-affirming person”.
Rosenthal released more than 30 books, journals, memoirs and best-selling picture stories, Uni the Unicorn and Duck! Rabbit! as well as short films, YouTube videos, and TED talks.
Last week, on Valentine’s Day, she captured hearts globally when her column for the NY Times went viral as she wrote about finding a new partner for her husband.
“I am wrapping this up on Valentine’s Day, and the most genuine, non-vase-oriented gift I can hope for is that the right person reads this, finds Jason, and another love story begins,” Rosenthal writes in a dating profile featured in The New York Times.
RELATED: ‘I was 34 when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer’
Rosenthal begins by describing how she got to this point and the heartbreaking moment the couple were told he had terminal cancer.
“Want to hear a sick joke? A husband and wife walk into the emergency room in the late evening on Sept. 5, 2015,” the 51-year-old writes. “A few hours and tests later, the doctor clarifies that the unusual pain the wife is feeling on her right side isn’t the no-biggie appendicitis they suspected but rather ovarian cancer.”
“So many plans instantly went poof.”
Rosenthal, realising that her time was running out decided who better to write the profile than his loving wife.
“He is an easy man to fall in love with. I did it in one day,” she continues.
“I have never been on Tinder, Bumble or eHarmony, but I’m going to create a general profile for Jason right here, based on my experience of coexisting in the same house with him for, like, 9,490 days.”
As well as describing the “basics”, height, weight, eye colour she also details his prowess in the kitchen, his love of live music and painting, how he is an amazing father and a romantic who brings her flowers and leaves notes and signs around the house.
“If he sounds like a prince and our relationship seems like a fairy tale, it’s not too far off, except for all of the regular stuff that comes from two and a half decades of playing house together,” she adds.
“And the part about me getting cancer. Blech.”
