An Anniversary Story!

Dennis and Mary Jane celebrating 41 years at Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino!

Dennis and Mary June have a wonderful love affair with each other, their family, their faith and, thankfully, with Canada!  The Ring ran into this amazing couple while in Tofino recently and were fortunate enough to be able to hear their story!

Dennis was 16 and on the school teams when he asked Mary June (who was fourteen and a cheerleader!) out on their first date...a true American high school romance.  Mary June says she remembers that it was as she was putting her books away in her locker and she couldn't have been happier! Unfortunately, not everything went smoothly as Dennis was taken away for some time by the Vietnam War.  But true love prevailed and, six years later, Dennis proposed at her front door while her parents were inside.  He says that she said "yes!" and immediately pulled him into the house to get the calendar and choose a wedding date.  Three months later, they said their vows in a small Catholic Church in Springfield, Ohio.

Not that planning the wedding was a cakewalk.  Mary June had a rather famous father in those parts who was a morning show host with the moniker, Smilin Bob.  Obviously, such a nickname was for a rather friendly fellow and he thought the wedding should include most of the town and be on the football field!  Mary June says she wishes they had done it now but at the time they decided on a rather more quiet affair.  

Their life has been full with changes in work for Dennis - from newspapers to industrial supplies - including a transfer that took them to Mesa, Arizona.  Mary June has worked at various things but is most proud of having written a book.  Five children were born along the way - four sons and a daughter, all of whom Dennis and Mary June are very proud.  An amazing accomplishment.  And there are five grandchildren with one more on the way.

Dennis and Mary June have had a lot of fun with their milestone anniversaries.  Their twenty fifth was a big occasion with family and friends where they renewed their vows.  For their thirty fifth they chose to take friends and family on a Caribbean cruise and for their fortieth they came to British Columbia.  This return to Canada mirrored their first anniversary which was spent in Niagara Falls and Quebec.  

Dennis feels that the key to their successful marriage has been that he "married better than he deserved!" and Mary June feels that the key is "waking up every morning and thinking about what I can give to make him happy.  Love is not a feeling - it's a giving of oneself".  Dennis feels that a relationship has to be viewed as a highly valued possession.  "Men will take care of vehicles and maintain them so why wouldn't more care be given to something a lot more important?" 

Dennis also commented that he loves how Mary June always laughs at his jokes and thinks he is funny - even when others don't.  We love that Mary June leaned over and touched his arm and said "but that's because you are so funny!"

Congratulations and enjoy celebrating on Vancouver Island!