practical living
Retirement Living residents Ray ( 99 ) and Marj ( 98 ) celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary in February . Picture : Supplied .
‘ Never go to bed angry ’
Residents share love story .
By Elise Hartevelt
South Australian aged care residents Ray and Marj were just teenagers when they met on a train speeding towards a party in the beachside town of Semaphore .
“ He made the first move by asking me to go out with him to his band practice on a Sunday ,” Marj , who is now 98 , told Aged Care Insite . “ And from then on , we became an item .” When World War II broke out in , Ray enlisted in June 1942 and trusted that the relationship was strong enough to overcome the distance .
They kept in touch for the entire four years apart . “ I remember we wrote often ,” Marj said . “ That ’ s all the boys wanted – a letter .” Ray briefly returned in 1944 while on leave from active service and asked Marj to marry him .
On 1946 February 9th , they were wed and celebrated the day with family and close friends . It was the happiest day of their lives . “ I remember standing at the end of the aisle watching this auburn-haired vision coming towards me ,” Ray reminisced .
They travelled to Port Elliot and Mount Gambier for their one-month honeymoon , where Ray introduced Marj to crayfish .
“ I spent the entire honeymoon putting calamine lotion on her hives because she was allergic to the crayfish ,” Ray laughed .
After buying their first house , they raised five children who later had ‘ countless ’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren .
The couple adores seeing their family and tries to meet as often as possible .
“ We like to do everything together ,” Ray said .
He retired at 60 and started looking for a hobby with Marj to enjoy the abundance of free time .
“ We tried out golf , but it wasn ’ t the sport for me ,” Ray said .
“ Then , we went to a dancing class and fell in love .”
Marj used to dance when she was 14 and was thrilled to pick up her dancing shoes again .
Ray was also familiar with music and rhythm as he used to play in a band – the same band he took Marj to on their first date .
“ We have a matching rhythm and feeling for dance ,” the couple shared .
“ It is good for your health and keeps your brain active too .”
They travelled through Australia in a caravan – stopping to dance at RSLs , country clubs and Senior Citizens Clubs along the way .
The couple also taught dancing for fifteen years and used to tear up the dance floor five times a week .
Now , nearly forty years later , they ’ re still dancing with unchanged enthusiasm .
Every Tuesday and Saturday night , you can find Marj and Ray on the floor swinging to their favourite tunes : the Waltz , American dances and the Fox Trot .
“ We ’ re still keen ; we enjoy it and have lots of fun ,” Marj said .
“ We hope we can continue for a few more years until Ray stops driving .”
Ray and Marj moved into ECH Torrens Court Independent Retirement Living home 27 years ago when they downsized . “ We love it here ,” Marj said . “ We love the sense of community in the village and have gained many friends over the years . “ Everyone is charming and very friendly .” Aged Care Insite asked their secret to a long and loving marriage . “ Never go to bed angry with one another ,” the couple said . “ And always talk to each other .” ■
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