Couple celebrate 78 years of love
A couple at Benetas’ Mornington Peninsula aged care home in Corowa Court have celebrated their 78 year wedding anniversary this month.
A couple at Benetas’ Mornington Peninsula aged care home in Corowa Court have celebrated their 78 year wedding anniversary this month.
Aged care residents Frank and Rena O’Neil met as teenagers while playing in the street in wartime in the United Kingdom. The couple married a few years later in 1942 when Rena was 17 and Frank was 19 years old.
“We had just finished our wedding vows when there was an air raid and we all ran for cover,” Mr O’Neil said.
“There were huge rations at the time so we didn’t have any champagne, wine or cake to celebrate with,” he said.
Rena and Frank on their 78th wedding anniversary 
Rena and Frank on their wedding day on 23 October 1942
To celebrate this year’s wedding anniversary, Mr and Mrs O’Neil shared a romantic afternoon tea served by the Corowa Court team with roses, old photographs and listened to a staff member playing the violin.
Mr O’Neil, who turned 99 this month, said advice for anyone looking to maintain a strong relationship was to “be kind no matter what.”
The couple live between two rooms at Corowa Court with one set up as their lounge room and the other as their bedroom.
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