82 years later, R.I. couple still holding hands

[wdlove]

'She had on a white blouse, a blue skirt -- and legs. Wow! And legs," John Rocchio recalled of the first time he saw Emilia Antonelli in Providence in 1922. ''So I says to myself, 'I need to meet that broad.' "
And so he did. They fell in love and married. And they remain so today, 82 years later.
It is an astounding number and one that apparently makes John, who is 101, and Emilia, who is 100, the longest-married couple in the world.

Their union is the longest running in the world. Guinness is waiting for proper documentation from them prior to an official listing.

They declare no universal reason for the length of marriage. Just how their own worked. They had disagreements, but always worked it out.

 

[emw]

Congrats to them - that's quite an accomplishment. I wonder how many kids/grandkids/great-grandkids they have by now?

 

[mactastic]

Cute!
Only another 77 years to go for me and the wife.

 

[ham_man]

This is awesome. And I thought that my gradparents 60th anniversary was a big deal...

 

[Lacero]

Who still marries at age 19?

 

[emw]

Who still marries at age 19?

82 years ago, getting married at 19 was waiting!

 

[_pb_boi]

82 years ago, getting married at 19 was waiting!

Very true indeed! My parents married at 21 and 24 respectively. If I did the same today, they'd kill me!

andy.

 

[Lacero]

I see people marrying for the first time in their 40's.

 

[noel4r]

No man should get married before 30 nowadays.

 

[~Shard~]

This is a great story, and a good lesson that when the going gets tough sometimes, you stick by each other. With divorce rates on the rise, it seems like people don't want to work through difficulties and issues anymore, that they don't want to put any effort into their relationship and just want to take "the easy way out" and divorce. There will always be challenges and problems in every marriage, but it is how the couple deals with these issues ansd communicates that will show how long they will stand the test of time, and how true their love really is for each other. So I applaud this couple as an embodiment of true love. Let them be an example for the rest of us

 

[~Shard~]

I see people marrying for the first time in their 40's.

This is very true. My only concern with this involves children. First of all, it is riskier and not as ideal for a woman to give birth the older she gets - 40 is somewhat pushing it. Besides the health considerations though, there is also one of the pure age gap. If you wait to have a kid until you're 45, do you really want to attend his/her graduation when you're 65? And once they are out of the house at 20 years old, or whenever, you'll be pushing 70! I would much rather bring up a child when I am relatively younger myself, so I can really enjoy the experience, play sports and what have you with them while I'm still active and fit, and not be older and possibly unable to participate in some activities. I also want to be able to enjoy spendnig time with just myself and my wife after the kids move out as well. Ever since I moved out, my parents have been traveling around the world and have essentially had a new life! They're doing things they couldn't do for the past 20-some years while they were busy raising me and my brother, and since they're young enough, they aren't having to worry about their health and anything else that would impede them from enjoying their "independence".

So I think it's things like this that need to be considered when thinking about getting married and having kids at an older age. Just some thoughts...

 

[MacFan26]

With divorce rates on the rise, it seems like people don't want to work through difficulties and issues anymore, that they don't want to put any effort into their relationship and just want to take "the easy way out" and divorce.

True, but divorce rates aren't on the rise just because people don't want to work things out. In situations where there is abuse, etc, people are getting out of relationships that they need to get out of. It's not as much of a social taboo today to get divorced. Especially since women are more likely to be able support themselves, versus depending on a spouse. Maybe there was less divorce in the past, but it doesn't mean people were happier.

 

[wdlove]

No man should get married before 30 nowadays.

I got married in 1972 at 24, my wife was 26. Happily married since. We have 49 years to make that record. Certainly longevity would have to increase.

Congratulations to John & Emilia Rocchio. May they have more happy life yet and not end up like the couple that Doctor Q posted about a few weeks ago.

I thought that it was cute when Emilia talked about "Making love" and then patted John's arm.

 

[SpaceMagic]

Aww this has gotta be the sweetest thing ever! Now... marissa from OC for me

 

[mactastic]

No man should get married before 30 nowadays.

Why's that?

 

[Counterfit]

Congrats to them - that's quite an accomplishment. I wonder how many kids/grandkids/great-grandkids they have by now?

About half the population of Providence =P
Hey, maybe I can go meet these two and give them a real interview? Naaahhh.

 

[yellow]

Lil Rhody rules! A once in a million marriage, congrats!

 

[echeck]

Hmmm.. got married when I was 20 so I guess I have to live to be 103 to break that record.

 

[~Shard~]

True, but divorce rates aren't on the rise just because people don't want to work things out. In situations where there is abuse, etc, people are getting out of relationships that they need to get out of. It's not as much of a social taboo today to get divorced. Especially since women are more likely to be able support themselves, versus depending on a spouse. Maybe there was less divorce in the past, but it doesn't mean people were happier.

Well said, I agree - didn't mean to give the wrong idea in my initial post.

 

[MacFan26]

didn't mean to give the wrong idea in my initial post.

I know, just thought I'd throw that in there, lol

And hey, I'm already 19, I guess if I should plan on breaking that record I better get a move on

 

[wordmunger]

My wife and I were both 22 when we were married, so we apparently have a shot at getting that record. Of course we'll need to cut down on the drinking, and move to higher ground to avoid global flooding, but I'd say we've got a shot....

 

[eva01]

No man should get married before 30 nowadays.

ouch, that sucks for me then, my girlfriend and I want to get marrried after her and i get out of medical school, and by the time she does i will be 32

 

[~Shard~]

I know, just thought I'd throw that in there, lol

It's a good point though. Just because divorce rates are higher doesn't mean that there are fewer happier marriages - it may just mean that there were more unhappy couples years ago who didn't feel comfortable getting divorced and perhaps stuck it out for the wrong reasons. That being said, in today's society of irresponsibility and laziness, divorce can definitely be abused as a tool of convenience.

 

[tech4all]

That's really nice to hear. 82 years is quite a long time to be with the same person. Good for them

No man should get married before 30 nowadays.

What about women? IMO, 25 seems like a good minimum age.

 

[Macaddicttt]

No man should get married before 30 nowadays.

I'm going to have to disagree here. I think it can be better to marry younger. I think that if you marry younger, you grow together with your spouse; whereas if you marry later, you're pretty much already set in your ways. And why is now any different than the 20s? If it's worked before, why doesn't it work now? I think most divorced couples married in their 30s or later. I can't think of too many couples I know who married young and got a divorce, especially compared to those who married later.

But then again, the problem with marrying earlier is it's easier to make a mistake and choose the wrong person. Well, I guess there's no definite answer. It just varies from person to person, I guess. But I definitely don't think that all people have to wait until their 30s. For some couples, younger definitely is better.