Joan and Joe, aged 87 and 90 reside in Calvary’s St Paul’s Retirement Community in Cundletown, north of Taree. Since meeting each other in 1960, the couple have enjoyed a loving and caring relationship and regularly exchange cheeky banter, and laugh at one another’s jokes.
Love at first sight can last a lifetime
It was a case of love at first sight when they met at a church club. Joan admits that she "knew straight away when we first met that I’d like to know more about him.
"I then found out how kind he was and we just seemed to get on so well. We married 12 months later and here we are," she said. “Ah well, if you’ve got the right one you just know," chimed Joe.
Simple weddings make memorable occasions
Joan and Joe’s wedding was a quiet celebration at home. A dressmaker by trade, Joan made "everything."
"I made my wedding dress, the bridesmaid’s dress and my mother’s dress," Joan explains. "My dress was spotted nylon and quite plain. It had short sleeves. Didn’t have a train or anything like that. My sister, who was my bridesmaid, had the same material in dusty pink. It was very nice."
Two children and five grandchildren later, Joan still sews for her family. "Sewing is my hobby, I love it and have my sewing machine here at St Paul’s."
A life shared is a life lived
"It just builds and builds until it gets to the stage you just seem to be one. You seem to think the same, as one. We seem so much alike, we like home life and he’s so kind,” said Joan. Joe added, "She looks after me."
"The secret is just to love each other and give and take. Nothing is perfect. You can’t have it all one way," Joan said.
