True. I've always said the same about special anniversary birthday parties for the elderly. I've warned my family not to do it, especially if one of them say "I'm thinking about having..."
After losing a couple elders to this curse, I had an aunt where the daughters were going to throw a party for her 60th. I figured that was young enough to avoid the curse. They rented a hall out and everything. She died of colon cancer that year.
I suspect part of it is a bit of depression. Since the younger folks are busy with their own lives, there is a certain lack of attention they get. Then, all of sudden, this big thing comes up where they are a celebrity. Then it all goes away and it's back to the doldrums. I think the only way out of that is the multi-generational living arrangement.
We were planning a big 100th birthday party for my grandmother, but she had her last heart attack about six weeks before her birthday, when she was out shoveling snow.