 Charles had been in poor health for some time . After going shopping on a chilly day in Funchal to buy toys for Carl Ludwig , he was struck by an attack of bronchitis . This rapidly worsened into pneumonia , not helped by the inadequate medical care available . Several of the children and staff were also ill , and Zita ( at the time eight months pregnant ) helped nurse them all . Charles weakened and died on 1 April , his last words to his wife being " I love you so much . " After his funeral , a witness said of Zita " This woman really is to be admired . She did not , for one second , lose her composure ... she greeted the people on all sides and then spoke to those who had helped out with the funeral . They were all under her charm . " Zita wore mourning black in Charles 's memory throughout sixty @-@ seven years of widowhood . 
