Dear fly2me,
I am so sorry for your loss. You clearly dearly loved your life's partner. How great that the you two of you continued to travel, doing something you both loved, in spite of her illness.
That United staff went out of their way to treat her as a queen, as you say, and allow you to forge special memories during that time comes as no surprise to me. Some months ago, there was a thread that asked people "Why United?" Many of the stories contained a personal connection, one that was maintained over the long haul, usually due to the actions of a few UA staff.
In the end, the only thing that matters during our time on this earth is the connections we make with other people, and in particular, the deep love that we forge with our families. How fortunate you have been to experience such a deep, abiding love. I cannot imagine your pain right now. I hope that, over time, it will lose its rawness.
Thank you for reminding us so eloquently about what really matters.
With best wishes,
big V