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Couples prove love endures
Last week, on the one day devoted to lovers, Dutch, 101, and Sara, who's 96, renewed the wedding vows that have seen them through women's lib, nofault divorce and all 42 Super Bowl Sundays. What's their secret to a successful marriage? "A good wife," Dutch said. Sara, who said she hadn't given it much thought, reflected for a moment and then decided, "Togetherness." Surrounded by floating pink and red balloons, their two daughters and some 40 friends, the couple reaffirmed their commitment to each other in a Valentine's Day ceremony at Atria Las Posas, a senior assistedliving community in Camarillo. Donna Clark of Camarillo confirmed that her parents spent their lives working and playing together. The Lautzenhisers ran a stationery store in downtown Oxnard for 18 years and after retiring in 1962 traveled the country in a trailer. "They both love life . . . and fishing," Clark said. "We always sat down to meals together- I think that meant something." Kira Anthofer, an ordained marriage minister and executive director of Atria Las Posas, said it's been her experience that people of this generation are faithful to their commitments. They're couples who've weathered the Great Depression and two world wars and as a result tend to believe that together they can overcome whatever obstacles come their way, Anthofer said. Their attitude is, "You have to do what needs to be done" to stay married, Anthofer said. In contrast to the Lautzenhisers, David and Elise Thompson are in the early years of their married life. The Thompsons met five years ago while living at Atria Las Posas. Friendship gradually gave way to love, and David, now 74, and Elise, 83, were married on Oct. 15, 2005. They, too, renewed their wedding vows in the firstever Renewal of Love ceremony in Atria's community room. "He's so sweet; he's so helpful," Elise said. "She's a wonderful person," David said. |
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