Bartlett couples celebrate 248 years of marriage
The bride wore a red dress shirt, her groom a matching bow tie.
They held hands and smiled while Pachelbel’s Canon in D played before the ceremony. He adjusted his glasses. She gave a quick wave to her friends in the audience and clutched her flowers a little tighter.
Then, right before Helen and Art Polich marched down the aisle, he leaned over and whispered into her ear:
“Oh no, here comes my girlfriend.”
Helen rolled her eyes and lightly slapped his shoulder. “Just hold my hand,” she said.
He did.
Helen, 80, and Art, 84, were one of five couples who renewed their vows at the Victory Centre of Bartlett on Monday. Together the group represented 248 years of marriage, with the “newest” couple, Joe and Maron Schatzinger, married 40 years.
June and Frank Euliano have been married 53 years, Robert and Shirley Kaczmarek have been married 52 years and Art and Mary Lindblad have been married 42 years.
About 50 friends and family members witnessed the ceremony which included cake, wedding music and lots of laughter. A car decorated with balloons and a “just married” sign waited outside.
When the Rev. Laurie Geschrey asked the couples if they understood their commitment and what it meant to love and honor each other, they smiled.
“I’m thinking,” Helen deadpanned. She quickly added, “Of course, I do.”
The Poliches have been married 61 years. They met when Art was Helen’s boss at a company in Chicago. They married on April 15, 1949.
Rose Simone, a community life assistant at Victory Centre, said the senior living facility hosts the vow renewal every year around Valentine’s Day.
“When you add up all the years of marriage and think about it, you guys really stuck to it,” Geschrey told them.
“At this stage, enjoy. I’m guessing you earned it. And remember, it’s not about the ups and downs, but the in-betweens.”
“And a lot of patience,” said Shirley Kaczmarek, when asked the secret to a long and happy marriage.