'Bittersweet': US Woman Wins $1 Million Lottery Weeks Before Husband's Death

In the weeks before his death, Karen Coffman’s husband worried she might have money troubles after he was gone. But two weeks before he died in April of complications from a brain tumour, the Pennsylvania woman bought a scratch-off state lottery ticket that netted her $1 million. “When I told him about the prize, he thought I was lying to him,” Coffman, 61, said of Robert, her husband of 31 years. She believes there was a spiritual intervention that brought about her win.

"Bittersweet Win" says Karen Coffman

Karen Coffman who had purchased the lottery ticket through a scratch-off game in March had been struggling with her husband's condition and knew that her husband was nearing the end of his battle with a brain tumour. She was officially awarded the prize money just a few days before her husband passed away.

Karen said it was a "bittersweet win" for her. As reported by WTAE News, after Karen won the lottery prize, she told her husband, "I told you I was going to hit a million." She continued, "I don't know if he understood that because it was coming towards the end and we knew it was coming."

“I do think he had something in the works, because he was worried. I hope he’s looking down on this,” an emotional Coffman said Thursday at a ceremony at which lottery officials presented her with a ceremonial check.

Allen Zieglar, the sales manager for the Pennsylvania Lottery bestowed the winning cheque to Karen Coffman and said, "It is now my pleasure to present you with a ceremonial check for $1 million in Pennsylvania." The moment was quite magical and humbling for Karen, as the 61-year-old was surrounded by her family and grandchildren. 

The recurrent question that sparked in everyone's mind was what was Karen going to do with all this money? After losing her husband to a tragic medical condition her plans included spending and cherishing more time with her family and grandchildren with whom she seemed very close. She mentioned that she would complete a few things off her bucket list, like deep sea fishing and going to Disneyworld with her grandchildren.

Karen mentioned how she used to fish with her husband it was their thing, "(Fishing) was me and the husband's thing. Then, I got my grandson started on it." 

While Karen has been lucky enough to win enough lotteries previously, none of them were as big as this one. But none of them did not bring the grief of losing her partner as well. With some losses and some gains, Karen seems to spend her time with her grandkids and stay close to them.