Days of our Lives, June 3, 2025: The family learns the news of John's death

Here's your Days of our Lives recap for Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

What happened on Days of our Lives

Julie was praying with her rosary in the Horton living room when Hope called and told her the good news about Bo. Julie gasped. “This is the greatest news. This is a miracle. And all because of John Black. That courageous man,” Julie said. Hope ended the call, and Julie looked over at her photo of Doug. “My darling, did you hear? Isn’t it the most wonderful news in the world?” Julie said. Julie smiled, and she told Doug that she knew he had had something to do with Bo’s miracle.

EJ was working on his laptop in the DiMera mansion when Kristen walked into the living room. “You’re up early,” EJ said. “I couldn’t sleep,” Kristen said. EJ said he had been working on his plans for the hospital. “Well, I hope you’re working on a plan of getting my mother home,” Kristen muttered. EJ smirked, and he assured Kristen that he would return Kristen’s mother as long as Kristen promised that Rachel Blake would not testify against him.

“And that your daughter won’t implicate Johnny in my shooting,” EJ added. “I promise nothing will change my mind,” Kristen said. Rachel screamed from the other room, and Kristen ran to find her daughter. When Kristen got to Rachel’s room, Rachel said she had had a nightmare about Grandpa John. “I dreamed he died,” Rachel said. “You don’t have to worry,” Kristen said. Kristen told Rachel that she had spoken to Brady the previous night, and that John had been doing better.

“I know that you were disappointed that we didn’t get to see him yesterday. So how about I pick you up from school and we pay him a visit?” Kristen said. Kristen encouraged Rachel to go back to sleep so that she would be rested enough to see John.

Paulina and Abe were asleep in their bedroom when Steve called them. “Is something happening?” Abe asked Steve. Steve told Abe about John’s death. At the penthouse, Marlena lay in bed wide awake, and she thought about when John had died in her arms. Tears welled in Marlena’s eyes.

In the penthouse living room, a sleepy-eyed Belle told Brady that she was going to call the hospital to check on their dad. Brady winced. “I was home last night, late. I was doing work. And Marlena told me that Dad’s gone,” Brady said. As Belle stared at Brady, unable to process the news, he hugged her. “I don’t understand. He was doing better,” Belle stammered. Confused, Belle asked why Marlena had not called them to return to the hospital to say goodbye.

“It happened suddenly. It happened very quickly. I know Marlena would have called if we had time,” Brady said. Marlena walked into the living room, and Belle rushed into her mother’s arms in tears. The two women hugged and cried together. While Marlena and Belle comforted one another on the couch, Brady fixed them both a cup of coffee. Brady wanted to wake up Tate and tell him the news, but Marlena told Brady to let his son sleep.

“I can call Paul if you want to try Carrie and Eric,” Brady said. Belle started to reach for her phone, when Marlena said no. “It’s still so early. Let’s give everybody some time,” Marlena said. There was a knock at the door. It was Abe and Paulina. “We hope we’re not too early, but we just heard the news,” Paulina said. “Steve called,” Abe confirmed. Paulina hugged Marlena, and she offered her condolences.

Kristen texted Brady asking him to meet to talk about Rachel. Marlena urged Brady to go, and he reluctantly agreed. Brady told Marlena that he loved her, and he thanked Abe and Paulina for being there. “Where else would we be?” Abe said. With a nod, Brady left. Abe and Paulina asked Marlena if she needed anything, and she said no. “We know this is a terribly difficult time for you. Just know, we are here for you,” Paulina said. “Always,” Abe whispered as he took Marlena’s hand.

After Abe and Paulina left to get pastries, Julie knocked on the door. A cheerful Julie marched past Belle into the penthouse with a plate. “I know your mother’s an early riser, but I didn’t know that you were too. Anyway, I brought these wonderful lemon bars that Maggie left for me while we were waiting for news about Bo and then I remembered that these are John’s favorite. So I thought I’d just bring them over to share with you all because you’re all having visitors I’m sure,” Julie said. Marlena’s face crumpled as she started to cry again. Julie asked what was wrong.

With a shaky voice, Marlena announced that John had died. Julie hugged Marlena tightly. “I’m so sorry. The last I heard he was better,” Julie said. Marlena sniffled back tears and nodded in agreement. “Let me be there for you just like you were there for me,” Julie whispered. Marlena nodded yes. “I know what it means to lose someone you love so much,” Julie said. “Yes, you do,” Marlena said. The two women hugged and cried as Belle opened the door for Abe and Paulina.

“You didn’t have to,” Marlena said. “Yes we did. Now all your guests, they’ll have something sweet to eat,” Paulina said. Marlena forced a smile and thanked Abe and Paulina. Julie took the pastries into the kitchen. “I know it’s early, but have you given any thought to the funeral?” Abe asked. “No! I haven’t!” Marlena yelled. Abe offered to help Marlena. Choking back tears, Marlena said thank you.

When Brady arrived at the DiMera mansion, Kristen asked Brady what was wrong. “I have some difficult news. We need to find a way to break it to Rachel,” Brady said. “You’re scaring me. What is wrong?” Kristen asked. Brady explained that John had died. “I thought you said he was getting better,” Kristen said. “He was. But then he took a turn for the worse. It happened very fast. I wasn’t there. There was nothing anybody could do,” Brady said. Stunned, Kristen paced for a moment, speechless.

“I just don’t believe it. I can’t believe that John is gone,” Kristen said as EJ returned to the living room. Without a word, EJ left the house. Kristen told Brady that it was hard to believe that someone that had been so important to the community was gone. “Brady, I am so sorry. I know how much you adored him and he you. And I can only imagine how much you are hurting right now,” Kristen said. “I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. That I’m never going to see my father again,” Brady admitted. Kristen nodded in agreement.

“I know that [John] and I had a complicated history. But I respected him. I respected him as a father and as a grandfather. And this world will be a lesser one without him,” Kristen said. “It already is,” Brady said. With a sigh, Kristen noted that Rachel had been excited to see John, and that it was her fault that Rachel had been unable to see him the previous day. “I gave dad the card that she made him. I’ll make sure she knows how much it meant to him,” Brady said. Kristen worried aloud about Rachel’s mental health.

“Rachel had a nightmare that her grandpa died. And I told her not to worry that everything was going to be all right,” Kristen said as her voice faltered. “Why wouldn’t you tell her that? I mean, he was doing better. We all thought we were going to have more time,” Brady said. Kristen noted she had felt the same way about her mother. “Now I might just get the chance,” Kristen whispered. Brady asked Kristen if EJ planned to return Rachel Blake to Kristen.

Kristen confessed that EJ had promised to give Kristen Rachel Blake’s location if Kristen made sure that her mother would not testify against EJ. “That’s all he wanted in return?” Brady asked suspiciously. Kristen admitted that she had also promised not to let Rachel tell anyone about Johnny’s argument with EJ. Surprised, Brady asked Kristen why she had told EJ about what Rachel had seen. Kristen argued that EJ wanted to protect his son. Brady groaned.

“I can’t believe you would agree to EJ’s terms without talking to me,” Brady lamented. “He was keeping my mother from me,” Kristen pleaded. Brady reminded Kristen that Rachel was already struggling to keep the secret. “I don’t expect Rachel to keep this secret for the rest of her life. That’s what her therapist is for,” Kristen argued. Kristen reminded Brady that the therapist was bound by confidentiality, but Brady said he was more concerned for Rachel’s safety. Kristen argued that EJ would not hurt her daughter. “Are you sure about that?” Brady asked.

When EJ arrived at the penthouse, Paulina opened the front door. “What are you doing here?” Paulina asked. “I wanted to pay my respects,” EJ said. Marlena marched over to the door. “How dare you come here?” Marlena yelled. Belle returned from the kitchen, and she asked EJ why he was there.

“I heard about your father. I wanted to offer my condolences to all of you. I'm so very sorry,” EJ said. Marlena gave Belle a look that said, “Get him out of here.” Belle nodded at her mother and said, “I think my mom has had enough visitors today.” Marlena kept her back turned to EJ as she stared at Belle with barely contained rage. Belle suggested that she and EJ go for a walk, and they left with Abe and Paulina.

When Abe and Paulina returned home, Paulina told Abe about a book she had read. “[The author] wrote about how acts of god are reflected when a community responds and rebuilds after a tragic event. Meaning that it’s how people support each other and comfort each other during hard times, that’s where you find god,” Paulina said. Abe held Paulina’s hand.

“We will be there for Marlena and for John’s family,” Abe agreed. With a sad smile, Abe noted that it had been an honor to have officiated John and Marlena’s wedding. Abe sniffled back tears. “I just hope he knew how much I loved him,” Abe said. “Of course he did,” Paulina said. Paulina noted that she and Abe had nearly lost one another on multiple occasions, and that she was grateful that they still had one another. “That goes double for me,” Abe said.

In the square, Belle told EJ that she did not want to see anyone. “Then why did you hustle me out of your house?” EJ asked. “Because my mother was going to physically throw you out, if you didn’t notice,” Belle said. Belle asked EJ why he had gone to the penthouse. “I wanted to be there for you,” EJ explained. EJ told Belle that he loved her, and Belle was taken aback.

“I think about you all day, dream about you at night, and every time I see you, my heart skips a beat. Like it’s doing right now,” EJ said with a nervous laugh. As EJ reached for Belle, she pushed him away. “It’s like I can feel my dad’s presence, you know? Like I can almost see him worrying about me and wanting me to make the right choices in life. I mean, what parent doesn’t want that, right?” Belle said. EJ asked Belle what she meant.

“I think my dad wouldn’t think that what we’re doing is the right decision for me. And I’m, I want to honor his memory and respect his wishes. I’m sorry,” Belle said. Belle held back tears as EJ nodded with understanding.

At the pub, Roman cheerfully greeted Kayla as she walked in. “I thought you might come in after your shift,” Roman said. Roman fell silent as he saw the look on Kayla’s face. “What’s wrong? Is it Bo?” Roman asked. Kayla shook her head no. “It’s John. He died last night,” Kayla said. Roman sat Kayla down to let her talk. Kayla explained that John had been improving, but that it had not been enough.

“I just wish that there was something else I could have done,” Kayla said as she sniffled back tears. “You did everything you possibly could. So please do not be hard on yourself about this,” Roman said. Roman asked about Steve, and Kayla confirmed that Steve was calling everyone. “You want to tell me how you’re feeling?” Kayla asked. Roman stammered that he was in shock.

“John had such a huge presence in all our lives. And even though I first knew him as my rival, I mean, the guy took over my life, but uh, god knows that it wasn’t as if he set out to hurt me. In fact, because of the man he was, he ended up doing a lot of good for me,” Roman said. Kayla nodded in agreement. Roman noted that John had raised his kids while Roman had been missing.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better man to be their second father,” Roman said. Kayla agreed. “He was so loving and kind and so full of joy. And even though it was such a crazy way that he was first introduced to us, he was part of our family. He was another brother. And Steve too,” Kayla said. Roman agreed, and he said he felt like he had lost a brother too. “And even more than that, I feel like I lost a part of myself,” Roman said. “We all do,” Kayla whispered.

Hope called Kayla’s phone, and she told her the good news about Bo. “I’m so happy for you and Bo,” Kayla said. Kayla handed the phone to Roman. “You tell that brother of mine he’s gonna see my ugly mug sooner rather than later,” Roman said. Roman ended the call. Stunned, Roman said he could not believe that Bo was awake and healthy. “John sacrificed his life so Bo could live. I don’t even know what Hope is going to think when she hears [about John],” Kayla said. Roman said he could not bear to ruin Hope’s happy moment with the news about John.

Roman marveled how everything had changed over the last 48 hours, and he offered to call everyone at the hotel to invite them to breakfast. “I don’t think they know yet. When I spoke to Marlena, she was pretty adamant about waiting till a decent hour to tell them,” Kayla said. Roman agreed that was for the best. Roman offered to go with Kayla to the hospital to pick up John’s personal effects and deliver them to Marlena.

Marlena was alone in the penthouse living room when Julie returned from the kitchen. There was a knock at the door, and Marlena deflated. Julie answered it for her. Roman and Kayla arrived with John’s personal effects. Marlena forced a smile as she greeted her guests. Roman hugged Marlena. “Thank you both for coming,” Marlena said. Kayla told Marlena that Bo had woken up from his coma. Marlena’s face softened, and a genuine smile formed.

“Well, that’s wonderful news,” Marlena said. “Because John was able to get his hands on that drug, he saved our brother’s life,” Roman said. “He’s a true hero,” Kayla added. Marlena grinned as tears flooded her eyes. “Yes. Why, you must be so happy,” Marlena stammered. Kayla looked stricken as Marlena started to cry again. Kayla offered to talk to Cat about canceling Marlena’s schedule.

“No. My patients need me,” Marlena objected. “And you will be there for them when you’re ready. Marlena, you need to take this time right now for yourself,” Kayla advised. Upset, Marlena wondered aloud what she would do at home. “You could get some rest. Visit with people who loved John and love you,” Roman said. Kayla told Marlena that she did not need a distraction. “Right now, the person you need to take care of is yourself,” Kayla said. Kayla handed Marlena the bag of John’s effects.

Marlena looked through the bag. “Is this everything?” Marlena asked. “It should be,” Kayla said. Marlena explained that she had given John a gold coin while he had been in the hospital. Marlena retreated to her bedroom. Roman suggested that he, Kayla, and Julie start to make phone calls to family and friends.

In Marlena’s bedroom, she held a Christmas photo of her with John. After a brief smile, Marlena saw a message from John on her phone. “How did I not see this? A message from John when he was coming home,” Marlena whispered. Marlena played the message. “I love you, Doc,” John said. Marlena sobbed, then replayed the message over and over. “I love you,” Marlena whispered.

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