Couples' marriages are golden
While some couples are planning their weddings, other Butler County residents are celebrating their 50th anniversaries.
William and Alice Fennell of Karns City had a small wedding at the Christian and Missionary Church of Chicora.
“We just could have a small reception because they didn't have a social hall,” Alice Fennell said.
They were married on Dec. 15, 1962, in front of 50 guests.
Virgil and Sandra Cousins of Karns City also had a small wedding of 75 guests on Dec. 15, 1962, but at Kaylor Methodist Church.
“It was just a simple wedding,” Sandra Cousins said. “We had a maid of honor and we had a best man. It was in a small country church.”
The Fennells' church had gold decorations and Alice wore her sister-in-law's three-quarter length gown.
“We had a maid of honor and a best man and we had two ushers and two junior ushers,” Alice said.
Sandra wore a wedding dress she bought off a girl she knew.
“It was long and white with lace,” Sandra said. “Just kind of simple.”
Sandra was walked down the aisle by one uncle, while another uncle performed the ceremony.
Once the Fennells were married, the guests followed them to the basement of the parsonage for the reception.“We just had cake and ice cream and coffee and that was all,” Alice said.The Cousins also only had cake and ice cream.“Then you opened your gifts in front of everybody,” Sandra said.The biggest factor both brides remember about that day was the weather.“It was snowing,” Alice said. “It was really snowing and it was very cold.”The weather almost stopped Virgil from making it to the wedding.“We had a really bad snowstorm that day and you kind of had to go up a little hill to the driveway to the church,” Sandra said “My husband got stuck for 10 minutes or so.”
Bill and Gerry Mizerak of Butler also celebrated their 50th anniversary, but they had a bigger wedding.The two were married on Nov. 17, 1962, at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Richeyville, Washington County.The day began with a 10 a.m. Mass, before a brunch and then photographs.“In our town you rode around tooting horns. In the evening you had dinner and dancing at the reception,” Gerry said.The two had about 150 guests share the day with them.“For us, that was big enough,” Gerry said. “I know some of my siblings had weddings of 300, but that was a little big.”“... I had an apple baroque gown and my daughter wore it in her wedding and when they had a May Crowning at the church,” Gerry said.The couple renewed their vowels for their anniversary at St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church in Meridian.“My husband choked up when he was about halfway through and I was OK until we said until death do us part,” Gerry said.Golden adviceA wedding is only one day, where 50 years is 18,262 days.
The Fennells' best advice to keep a marriage going after 50 years is to be very forgiving and loving.The Cousins said its important not to give up.“When the times get rough, just hang in there,” Sandra said. “It's worth it in the end.”Sandra added that the most important thing though, is to “put God first in your life.The Mizeraks also said God is important to making a marriage last.Gerry said love, trust and patience are key ingredients, but also “I think spiritually, you have to have God in the picture in your marriage.”
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