What a Sweet, Endearing Story ... |
| Hazel and George Lewis enjoy a laugh as they renewed their wedding vows during a celebration recognizing their 70th anniversary, July 4, 2012. The couple live at the Woods Park Care Centre in Barrie. J.T. McVeigh Photo |
BARRIE - In a slightly overheated basement community room, a ring of more than 40 wheelchairs and walkers have been set up.
There is a quiet hum of conversation from the audience as Father Don Dorion makes sure last-minute preparations are in order.
A large cake sits on a table in one corner of the room.
Yellow and gold balloons tied to the legs of the table dance as caregivers walk back and forth.
Chairs towards the back of the room quickly fill up as Father Don stands up.
“What we are about to witness is something that you will probably never see again in your life,” he says.
That’s a tall order when you are saying things like that in a retirement home such as Woods Park Care Centre.
Looking about the room, you’d think there are probably enough experiences in there to fill several history books.
But he is probably right, though. We are all here because we are going to witness a renewal of vows with two of Woods Park residents.
Not just on any old wedding, but the celebration of the marriage of Hazel and George Lewis 70 years ago on July 4, 1942.
The war was still raging and George was just three days away from reporting to the Canadian Forces at a camp near Montreal.
A portrait of the couple on their wedding day 70 years ago is displayed near the cake. It shows George in a sharp double-breasted suit and Hazel beautiful, wearing a long, simple gown.
It is not hard to see why she was known as ‘Beautiful Brown Eyes’.
Father Don begins with a history of the couple.
Both were born in Toronto, just a month apart, in 1916.
George apprenticed to become a printer and proofreader, while Hazel, as the good father tells it, enjoyed sports, going to the movies and reading a good love story.
“Who knew?” said the priest.
After the war, George stayed with a printing firm for 40 years before his retirement.
Hazel worked for a time and then stayed home to raise their three daughters.
As a lot of couples did, they enjoyed recreational sports and holidays in Florida.
The past few years haven’t been kind to Hazel and George. After moving to Barrie in 2004, her health declined and she moved into Woods Park four years later. Not feeling too comfortable with that arrangement, George moved in with his wife to afford her some stability.
The couple’s decision to renew their vows caught many off guard.
“I was a little surprised that they did this, because we hadn’t talked about it” said their daughter, Gail Lewis, “but I think that it is a great thing.”
After hearing Nat King Cole crooning Our Love is Here to Stay playing over a portable CD player, the service began.
Hazel, to the father’s left, and George, sitting in a chair to the right, a decorative arch sitting behind to take a little of the community room effect away.
Richard Wagner’s Bridal Chorus plays on an electric piano as Hazel and George slowing make their way to the front.
“George, before we begin, would it be alright to kiss the bride,” Father Don asked.
“OK, but it won’t do you any good,” George replied to howls of laughter from the audience.
George’s quick wit showed through the rest of the service.
“Yours is truly a marriage grown with love commitment and trust,” Father Don said as he closed the service.
“Now we just have one more thing to do, like you did 70 years ago, and seal this marriage with a holy kiss.”
Tired and looking a bit uncomfortable after being the centre of attention for so long, George looked down and pulled Hazel closer.
“Come here, lover,” he said.
And the day was sealed with a kiss.
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| Father Don Dorion, centre, helps Hazel and George Lewis with the renewal of their vows as the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Wednesday with a celebration at the Woods Park Care Centre. (J.T. McVeigh Photo) Credit JT McVeigh, Barrie Examiner |
