Read the full article on KETV 7
BECOME A BIG DATA CENTER. THERE? REMEMBERING LOVE IN THE FACE OF DEMENTIA. WE KNOW FEBRUARY IS A MONTH OF LOVE FOR A FEW LOCAL COUPLES AT ANTHEM MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY IN WESTCHESTER. THEIR LOVE HAS BEEN STANDING THE TEST OF TIME, AND IT HAS BEEN ENDURING. WLWT NEWS FIVE ANCHOR ASHLEY KIRKLEN WAS THERE AS THEY RENEWED THEIR VOWS TODAY. HI THERE. YOU MIGHT NEED SOME TISSUES, GUYS, JUST WARNING EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW. HI MIKE AND SHEREE, WE ARE TALKING WITH COUPLES WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED 50, 60, EVEN 70 YEARS. AND TODAY WAS A CELEBRATION OF RESILIENCE, OF LOVE. AND THOUGH THEY ARE NOW LIVING WITH THE FOG OF DEMENTIA, THEY HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD. TO HONOR AND TO CHERISH. IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH. THESE SEVEN COUPLES HAVE BEEN KEEPING THOSE SAME VOWS FOR DECADES, AND TODAY THEY TOOK THEM ONCE AGAIN. SUSAN AND DENNY, FOR 57 YEARS. WE JUST STARTED OUT AND WE BOUGHT A BUSINESS WHEN WE WERE 30 AND. THROUGH A BUSINESS IT GREW TWO CHILDREN AND. ALWAYS BEEN IN LOVE. ALWAYS THAT LOVE STILL IS STRONG TODAY. BEEN IN LOVE FOREVER. RICHARD AND EILEEN, THE LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE HERE TOGETHER FOR 70 YEARS. INITIALLY STARTED TOGETHER IN IN THE AIR FORCE. I SPENT 12 YEARS THERE AND AND SHE WAS THERE WITH ME THROUGH OUR TIMES. WE TRAVELED THE WORLD. RICHARD FIRST SAW EILEEN AT A PARTY. HE WAS STRUCK BY HER BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES. FRANK SINATRA WAS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND. I ASKED HER TO DANCE, AND INITIALLY SHE SAID NO. AND I PERSISTED, AND SHE SAID YES. AND THAT THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF OUR LOVE STORY. AND NOW, SEVEN DECADES LATER, HIS LOVE FOR HIS BRIDE IN THOSE OLD BLUE EYES, STILL BRINGING HIM TO TEARS. SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES. SO INVITING. SOMETHING IN YOUR SMILE WAS SO EXCITING. THAT OLD FRANK SINATRA SONG. BRINGING BACK MEMORIES NOW OF THE COUPLES THAT WERE HONORED TODAY. THEY’VE BEEN MARRIED FOR A COMBINED 382 YEARS. THEY SAY THE WORK IS TO THE WORK. THE WORK IS RATHER A KEY TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE. SORRY I GOT CHOKED UP THERE, BUT YES. GREAT STORY. ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES, NOTEBOOK. AND THAT JUST REMINDS ME OF THE NOTEBOOK. OR THE MOVIE OR THE THE MUSIC WOULD KIND OF TAKE THEM BACK AND SHE WOULD REMEMBER FOR THAT FIRST FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE BIT, AND THEN SHE’D SLIP AWAY AGAIN FOR THEIR PASSING. BOTH OF MY PARENTS SPENT TIME IN THOSE HOMES, AND I JUST SEEING THAT AND ALL THE WORK THAT PEOPLE DO TO TO CARE FOR PEOPLE AND MAKE TH
Advertisement
Couples at Anthem Memory Care Community in West Chester, Ohio, married for 50, 60, and even 70 years, gathered to celebrate their enduring love despite the challenges of dementia. Susan and Denny Smith, married for 57 years, reflected on their journey together. “We just started out, we bought a business when we were 30 and grew a business. A great two children, always been in love. Always,” Susan Smith said.Richard and Eileen Menna, the longest-married couple at the celebration, have been together for 70 years. Richard Menna shared their story, saying, “Initially started together in the Air Force, and I spent 12 years there. It. She was there, through our times we’ve traveled the world.”Richard Menna recalled the moment he first saw Eileen at a party, captivated by her beautiful blue eyes as Frank Sinatra played in the background. “I asked her to dance. Initially, she said no, and I persisted. She said yes. That was the beginning of our love story,” Menna said.Seven decades later, Richard’s love for Eileen, whom he affectionately calls “Old Blue Eyes,” still brings him to tears. West Chester, Ohio, is outside of Cincinnati.
Couples at Anthem Memory Care Community in West Chester, Ohio, married for 50, 60, and even 70 years, gathered to celebrate their enduring love despite the challenges of dementia.
Susan and Denny Smith, married for 57 years, reflected on their journey together.
Advertisement
“We just started out, we bought a business when we were 30 and grew a business. A great two children, always been in love. Always,” Susan Smith said.
Richard and Eileen Menna, the longest-married couple at the celebration, have been together for 70 years.
Richard Menna shared their story, saying, “Initially started together in the Air Force, and I spent 12 years there. It. She was there, through our times we’ve traveled the world.”
Richard Menna recalled the moment he first saw Eileen at a party, captivated by her beautiful blue eyes as Frank Sinatra played in the background.
“I asked her to dance. Initially, she said no, and I persisted. She said yes. That was the beginning of our love story,” Menna said.
Seven decades later, Richard’s love for Eileen, whom he affectionately calls “Old Blue Eyes,” still brings him to tears.
West Chester, Ohio, is outside of Cincinnati.
