In the event that any such town employee entitled to the benefits of this act, who having had deducted from his salary or compensation the percentage provided in this act, shall die as the result of injury or illness received or incurred in the performance of his duty, or in the event that such town employee shall have served in the employ of the town continuously or in the aggregate for twenty years and who has had deducted from his salary or compensation the percentage provided for in this act, shall die from cause other than injury or illness received or incurred in the performance of his duty, subject to the limitations hereinafter provided, there shall be paid each year to his dependent widow, dependent child or children under the age of sixteen years, or dependent parent or parents, a sum equal to one-half the compensation or salary received by such town employee at the time of his death.

L.1943, c. 189, p. 527, s. 9.