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In Bartlett, Illinois, an impressive group of eight couples collectively celebrating 471 years of marriage resides in a local senior living community.
Each couple boasts over half a century of matrimony, and on Thursday, they all came together for a heartwarming vow renewal ceremony.
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Among them, Agnes and Chuck Fruehe walked hand in hand down the aisle, with Agnes balancing flowers and a cane. The couple marked 71 years of marriage on that very day, having tied the knot on February 12, 1955. Their family tree includes five children, 14 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
“Everything seems to be going well. It’s been a good marriage,” they shared with a smile.
Sharon and Don Miller, married for 56 years, have a unique story. Born just days apart, they first crossed paths as newborns in the nursery at St. Anne’s hospital.
They now live in the Hearthwood Senior Living community in Bartlett, where they joined with the other longtime married couples renewing their vows.
“Kinda like saying, ‘yeah, we’d do it again.’ I wanna lock her up for the duration,” Don Miller said.
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Family, friends and neighbors from the Hearthwood community came to witness the vows. Of course, they were sealed with a kiss.
“To celebrate life with a renewal of vows is just an extension of what they do each and every day,” Eric Gross said.
Joyce and Les Zemba may have the most unlikely marriage there.
She left the convent and her life as a Catholic nun to marry.
It’s all detailed in her book, “A Life Like Nun Other.” But it was not love at first sight.
“I was not crazy about him at all because he drank too much, and he was a little heavy-set,” Joyce Zemba said.
Les Zemba quit drinking, lost weight and they have now been married 54 years.
Agnes Fruehe spoke for all the couples.
“Your faith helps, and wonderful family,” she said.
Some advice the couples gave Thursday, included “don’t sweat the small stuff” and “marriage is not a part-time job.”
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