Couples renew vows representing 700-plus years of marriage
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Mary Jane and Thomas Burkhard share a kiss before affirming their vows.
Mary and William Early renew their vows.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Margaret and George Dorogy have been married for nearly 63 years.
Karen Tarullo shows photos to her parents, Anthony and Marianne Tarullo, during the reception that followed the vow renewals.
Patricia and David McCartney renew their vows, with the Rev. Howard West and the Rev. Bridget Akyea officiating.
Lou Schreiber provides music.
Margaret Watson renews her vows with husband Jim.
Jim Watson smiles during his vow renewal to wife Margaret.
The Rev. Howard Watson and the Rev. Bridget Akyea, Country Meadows of South Hills chaplain, renew a couple's vows.
Mary Jane and Thomas Burkhard renew their vows.
Christine and Lou Schreiber provide music.
As soon as they arrived at where they were supposed to stand, Thomas and Mary Jane Burkhard shared a kiss.
“You’re supposed to wait for after the vow,” the Rev. Howard West told them. “But that’s OK.”
Those in attendance would agree, considering the Burkhards have been married for more than 63 years.
They were among the 14 couples who participated in affirmation of marriage ceremonies the day after Valentine’s Day at Country Meadows of South Hills in South Fayette Township.
“I would call it historic, maybe historical,” said West, executive director of spiritual life for Country Meadows Retirement Communities. “Guess how many years of marriage we will be celebrating today, if we include all the people? Over 700 years of marriage represented between these 14 couples.”
Two services took place, during which family members and friends watched as the wedded residents in South Fayette renewed their vows. Along with the Burkhards, who were married Oct. 22, 1956, the other couples participating were:
- Patrick and Joyce Bedner, Aug. 22, 1964
- Joseph and Rosalind Blice, Feb. 23, 1952
- Al and Mary Lou Borza
- James and Shirley Carver, Jan. 17, 2006
- George and Margaret Dorogy, Oct. 26, 1957
- William and Mary Early, Nov. 23, 1990
- Joseph and Pat Karnuta, Oct. 8, 1955
- David and Patricia McCartney, Sept. 22, 1956
- Joseph and Elsie McNerney, Nov. 24, 1951
- Thomas and Alma Paholsky, June 14, 1958
- Anthony and Marianne Tarullo, June 2, 1956
- Jim and Margaret Watson, June 24, 1972
- Donald and Margaret Woyicki, July 19, 1969
The Carvers happened to meet at Country Meadows of South Hills.
“These are the newlyweds,” West said.
“They’ve only been married 14 years.”
For more information, visit www.countrymeadows.com/communities/pittsburgh-pa.