PALM HABOR, Fla. — A local family said their loved one died alone due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Megan DiBlasi said her 95-year-old grandfather was not allowed to have visitors in the hospital.
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"People are dying by themselves. It's the loneliness that they're feeling as they leave us and leave their family," said DiBlasi.
Her grandfather, Clayton Snare, complained of shortness of breath and was rushed to a local hospital last month. He died a few hours later after arriving at the hospital.
He lived at St. Mark Village in Palm Harbor.
"He'd walk into St. Mark and he'd be the person standing by the welcoming desk just greeting everybody that came in and he knew everybody," said DiBlasi.
Snare's death certificate said he died of COVID-19.
His family questions if the coronavirus ultimately caused his death, since he had been tested for COVID-19 multiple times prior to his death and tested negative.
His family said there was confusion among doctors.
At first, they said he died of a lung infection, but later doctors said Snare died of COVID-19.
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Snare was a meteorologist in the Navy during World War II. He was also the president of two banks and moved to Palm Harbor to be closer to his family.
"He lived a great life, but I still would want more years with him if we could," said DiBlasi.
Snare was married for more than 65 years. His wife lives at St. Mark Village.
The couple had 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
"Just with the virus and the time that we're getting to be with our family, don't take it for granted. We've been given such a blessing to spend so much time with our loved ones right now, our immediate family," she said. "I just love the fact that he never changed in who he was and I'm thankful when he left this earth, he didn't have to suffer."