‘this Was Their Place:’ Family, Friends Describe Heartbreak After Mom Who Fell Through Ice Dies As Search For Dad Continues

The family of an aged Massachusetts mates is grieving aft a tragic play accident connected Cape Cod.

The precocious schoolhouse sweethearts had been connected a “normal” locomotion connected Saturday earlier seemingly encountering trouble. Kathleen “Kit” Boucher, 71, died aft being spotted half-submerged successful nan ice connected Bee’s River. Two constabulary officers besides consciousness done nan crystal trying to rescue her, but managed to get to safety. Their canine had been spotted loose and bedewed connected a adjacent beach, officials said.

Her husband, Gerald “Jerry” Boucher, 72, remains missing.

Rescuers searched for Jerry complete nan play but stopped owed to vulnerable crystal conditions. The hunt resumed Tuesday utilizing divers, drones, and helicopters, pinch authorities hoping to proceed Thursday aliases Friday, depending connected nan weather.

The couple’s daughters, Katy Boucher and Amy Lawson, said successful a associated connection Tuesday to NBC Boston, "Our family is devastated by nan tragic nonaccomplishment of our beloved parents, Kit and Jerry Boucher. We are profoundly grateful for nan heroic efforts of nan first responders successful Eastham. We are thankful for nan outpouring of love, and admit nan privateness and discretion nan organization is extending to our family during this unimaginably difficult time.”

"They locomotion each nan beaches, each nan time. They loved being connected Cape Cod, they loved surviving here. This was their place," said Dawn Varnum, who knew nan Bouchers well, told the outlet,

Kit and Jerry celebrated their 50th wedding day past year, Lawson told nan New Haven Register.

"They person been together since they were 15 and died together connected Valentine’s Day," Lawson said. "They were champion friends passim life. They were fiercely dedicated to family and friends, and made everyone they met consciousness loved and important."

Boucher said her parents took their canine for a locomotion connected Valentine’s Day, a regular daily for her mother, apt joined by her begetter owed to nan holiday.

"When I arrived astatine their location aft proceeding nan news," Boucher said astir their disappearances, "I could spot their Valentine cards and chocolates connected nan room table. They were conscionable going to do their normal thing. My sister keeps saying, ‘They died alive.’ ”

Massachusetts State Representative Steve Xiarhos besides sent his condolences to nan family, posting connected Facebook, “We are perfectly heartbroken complete nan tragic nonaccomplishment of Kit Boucher and nan ongoing hunt for her hubby Jerry successful Eastham,” sharing a photograph of nan couple.