Sorry to hear about your loss

If you're talking about Bally Lifetime Fitness, then that is sort of the way they've always done business. They sign you to a contract and actually hope that you don't go. I was once told that Bally estimates that only 10% of those who signup actually go on any kind of regular basis.
With that said, they used to have an option that if you were incapacitated (broke your leg for example) then you could suspend your membership. I would contact them again.

I enthusiastically joined Lifetime Fitness in Berkeley Heights NJ. It's a nice enough place. The staff was very nice when we joined and said call anytime we needed anything. Three months in, like many in our state, our home was ravished by a flood. Then we received notice that our health care premiums were increasing by $200 a month. Money became a problem and I called to ask about help or suspending the membership. The nice lady who said call anytime never returned my call. Then our mom was hospitalized and after several months died. The hospital and funeral costs are horrible. All during this time I called and as instructed wrote to cancel my membership. They continued to charge my credit card. I finally had Amex refuse their charge. No one has ever responded to my calls or letters. This is a cautionary tale for anyone considering this place. They are heartless when it comes to their members and fail to live up to the published code of conduct on dealing with their members 'fairly and with integrity'

You signed a legal CONTRACT. CONTRACTS can not be broken simply because you no longer want the service. Now that you refused payment, they can sue you. Have fun with that.