by KATHERINE VOGT Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) -- They met at a Jimi Hendrix concert when she was just a teen-ager, and they were married in 1973. Inseparable for more than a quarter century, they had worked side by side in a small sorting room at a Denver post office.

Shortly after midnight Saturday, Mary Siens, 45, was driving to her second job when her vehicle was hit by a man who police say had been drinking.

Minutes after officers arrived at the Siens' home to tell 51-year-old Jerry Siens about his wife's accident, he collapsed in one of his sons' arms and died of a heart attack.

''There's a lot of solace to be found in the fact that they are now together. Not enough to make it right but enough to make it bearable,'' said Casey Siens, 21, the oldest of three sons. ''It's still surreal.''

Mary and Jerry Siens had worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 24 years. Six months ago, after Jerry suffered a mild heart attack, he took time off to recover and had recently taken his wife to Las Vegas for a birthday celebration. A week before his death, Jerry went back to work.

''My mom was always giving 100 percent of herself selflessly to anyone. She would be the one sending flowers, arranging dinners and doing the things that everyone else is doing right now,'' Casey Siens said.

''My dad was always there whenever I needed advice or anything. He was always the joker. He made me smile and made everyone else smile,'' he added.

Siens said he and his 18-year-old twin brothers Gentry and Shane had been overwhelmed by an outpouring of sympathy and help from friends, family and community members.

''I had no idea that people care so much,'' he said, adding that the family had set up a fund to help them keep their house. A private memorial service was planned for Friday.

Siens said he and his siblings were planning another, more intimate tribute at their mountain cabin.

''We're going to plant some evergreens up there so we'll always have a place to remember them,'' he said.

The driver police say struck Mary Siens' vehicle, Chad Sarmiento, 25, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), November 30, 2000

Answers

well most of this is true xcept for the parts about them meeting @ a jimmi hendrex concert...

-- gentry siens (gentry50@hotmail.com), December 17, 2004.