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 * Feel-Good Friday: St. Louis Centenarians Celebrate 80 Years of Marriage

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FEEL-GOOD FRIDAY: ST. LOUIS CENTENARIANS CELEBRATE 80 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

By Jennifer Oliver O'Connell | 9:04 PM on January 05, 2024
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily
represent the views of RedState.com.

Rick Bowmer

It's the New Year, so ads for anti-aging and weight loss are hot and heavy on
social media. If I had a dollar for the number of times I've seen the ad for
that Keto gummy that singer Kelly Clarkson supposedly used to lose weight (not
likely), I'd be able to buy a new smartphone.

Advertisement


But I digress. While age is just a number, longevity is a rare prize. While it
is some parts genetic and some parts lifestyle, a huge part of living a long
life is having love and purpose that fuels that life. The beauty of a long and
fulfilled life is the subject of this first Feel Good Friday of 2024.

> New Year's Day is special for a lot of people but especially so for a couple
> celebrating 80 years of marriage together. 
> 
> Andrew and Bertha Kowalczyk were married in 1944. They had six children
> together, along with 31 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Fenton
> couple, now aged 103 and 102 respectively, celebrated their 80th wedding
> anniversary on Monday with friends and family.

Length of years is one thing. Longevity in marriage, especially a first-time
marriage, is quite remarkable. You can see the power of this in three
generations of family who not only love, respect, and care for their matriarch
and patriarch, but who are excited to come together to celebrate this
milestone. 

As storied as the Kowalczyks lengthy marriage is, the tale of their union is
also one for the books. The Kowalczyks' son David gave a detailed account to a
local blogger:

> While attending the University of New Hampshire in 1942, Andrew Kowalczyk, now
> 103, and Bertha "Bunny" Burnham, 102, were randomly paired up during a dance.
> Little did they know, but pulling the number 23 from a raffle would turn out
> to be their own life lottery win. [...]
> 
> Andrew and Bertha's son, Dave Kowalczyk, tells CafeMom his mom was a freshman
> and his dad a senior in September 1942 when they met at a dorm dance. The
> couple began getting to know each other and knew there was something special.
> Bertha accompanied Andrew to his military ball in the fall of 1942, and she
> took him home to meet her parents that spring.
> 
> "In May of 1943 Bertha brought Andrew to her home in Bristol, New Hampshire,
> for the weekend. Bertha was impressed at how he played with her sister's
> infant. This was a very important test for Bertha because she wanted to have
> many children," Dave explained.

Advertisement


Bunny was a wise young woman, and apparently this test paid off. The blessing of
their large family hinged on this moment, and Andrew met it. That sealed the
deal for Bunny.

> Love couldn't wait, though. "Bertha wanted to get married on New Year's Day
> because she thought this would be a great way to start off the year," Dave
> says.
> 
> The couple married in a small ceremony in front of 50 close family and friends
> on a frigid New Year's Day, with a reception at Bertha's mother's home
> following the wedding. Bertha, majoring in home economics, made her wedding
> dress and carried white roses. The couple dined on small sandwiches and a
> tiered fruit cake.

How many couples spend tens of thousands on the wedding of the century, only to
divorce five years later? Andrew and Bunny's simple ceremony, blessed by their
community, is more memorable and meaningful because they are still together
eight decades later.

But there's a twist: Andrew Kowalcyzk had to immediately report for duty. There
was a war going on, after all.

> "My father had to take leave, and he arrived a couple hours before the wedding
> took place. And he had gotten leave from his officer, and he said he had to be
> back on Jan. 1. but he said, 'Well, I'm getting married.' And he said, 'Well,
> we'll make it Jan. 3.'"

The rest, is true history. Andrew and Bunny Kowalcyzk's lovely celebration was
held at Cape Albeon Lakeside Retirement Living, where the couple now lives. The
video below is a sweet news segment highlighting their story.

Advertisement


We should all be so blessed to know not only length of years but a rich legacy
of love, commitment, and family. 

                                  

Share
Post

Jennifer Oliver O'Connell (As the Girl Turns) is a contributor at Redstate and
other publications. Jennifer writes on Politics and Pop Culture, with occasional
detours into Reinvention, Yoga, and Food. You can read more about Jennifer's
world at her As the Girl Turns website. You can also follow her on Facebook,
Twitter, and Telegram.

Story leads: info@asthegirlturns.com.

Read more by Jennifer Oliver O'Connell
Tags: AGE ELDERLY MARRIAGE FEEL GOOD FRIDAY

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