A Pine Bush man says he lost the love of his life in October to stage 4 lung cancer and that the state “robbed” her of her retirement benefits.

Kathy Dweyer Hoard worked at the Rockland Psychiatric Center for 38 years. She requested to retire on Oct. 21, but the state sent her a notice saying she must work for at least 15 more days before her retirement becomes effective.

She died just about a week before her retirement kicked in, keeping her husband, Michael Hoard, from receiving the death benefits she earned.

"I would want her future to be taken care of, as I know she wanted my future to be taken care of," he told News 12. "She's hosted so many…retirement parties over the years and she always told me that she can't wait for her own. What fuels me is the fact that the state robbed her of that."

State Sen. Peter Harckham says lawmakers are working on legislation “that would give the comptroller a modicum of discretion in cases like these so that spouses won't be denied a pension.”

A state Senate bill to help resolve similar issues was not approved by the Assembly and has been referred back to a committee.