Very sad news but in looking for the silver lining, how much worst would it have been for them to be alone up in the mountains when he passed leaving Ann to deal with it alone. I'm sure her guilt then would have been even greater.
When my Charlotte passed away it was very suddenly and unexpectedly also and we had returned only the previous week from a month long trip where we spent a lot of time in the back country (where we both love it). Had her death occurred while we were away from speedy help I KNOW I would have felt that guilt and I know just as well that Charlotte would have told me it was much better to have something to be excited about than to have lived a boring life.
Ann has my sympathies as I DO know what she must be feeling.