August 25, 1962 - August 25, 2007

Happy 45'th Wedding Anniversary to Mary and Jerry!

I love old black and white photos and this is one of my favorites. My sister Mary is the bride and I am the maid of honor in dark rose. Don't we all look like a page from the very early 60's? My sister looks beautiful in her pure silk wedding gown and her husband Jerry looks so young and thin and handsome! Now check out the bridal party. The flower girl is my niece Diane and her mother Iona made her gown by just looking at the other attendants dresses that were purchased at Rikes in downtown Dayton, Ohio. I think the bridesmaids and myself look like a scene from Cyprus Gardens in Florida. We have our hats with veils, our long white gloves that go above the elbow and of course we have our hoop skirts to make our dresses stand out. We are either ready for Cyprus Gardens or for meeting Scarlett in Gone With The Wind. Now check out the men. Note the dark suits and narrow ties. Also note the short hair and short sideburns. That would not last. By 1969 even the conservatives were wearing long hair and long sideburns. The tall?, dark and handsome man on the far left is my brother Carl. Now take a look at the church alter and the beautiful wood angels on both sides of the alter. All of this would be eliminated after Pope John the 23'rd and Vatican II. Do note the cute little boy who was Jerry's nephew and was the ring bearer for the ceremony. Sadly he is the only one in this photo who is now deceased. He died in his early 20's of cancer. So very sad.

Now look at the second photo. Here is the bride and groom 45 years later.
Mary and Jerry are surrounded by their six grandchildren: Brady, Kristine and Justin are in the front row and Mary is holding Audrey and Jerry is holding Tate. I can remember this wedding in every detail. It was 1962 and our Catholic Church required wedding ceremonies in the morning. So I think this wedding took place around 10:00 A.M. which meant that select guests came for breakfast and then lunch and afternoon down time before the evening country buffet dinner and dance. Mary and Jerry were still square dancing and slow dancing at 10:00 P.M. that Saturday night in August. They were cutting the rug in 1962 and they are still cutting the rug today with the grandkids.